RISHI Sunak’s one-time pal Robert Jenrick kicked off a crunch week for the PM yesterday by accusing him of misleading the public over Rwanda.
The ex-Immigration Minister unleashed on the one time ally he says is knowingly pretending new legislation to kick out small boat migrants will work.
ReutersRobert Jenrick kicked off a crunch week for Rishi Sunak by accusing him of misleading the public over Rwanda[/caption]
PAThe ex-Immigration Minister says the PM is knowingly pretending new legislation to kick out small boat migrants will work[/caption]
GettyA key point for critics of the PM’s bill is whether potential deportees will have the power to personally appeal[/caption]
In a hammer blow to the PM’s emergency legislation to save his Rwanda deportation scheme, Mr Jenrick hit out: “A political choice has been made to bring forward a bill that doesn’t do the job.”
And accusing the PM of being scared of criticism for taking a harder line on the European Convention on Human Rights, he added: “We’re not sent to Parliament to be concerned about our reputations on the gilded international circuit.”
Last night, furious Sunak allies accused the departed minister of being on manoeuvres to further his own career – a claim he denied.
A government source said: “Robert has changed his tune dramatically, leading people to conclude this is more about his career ambitions than policy principle… People are baffled by his behaviour.”
However, a friend of Mr Jenrick hit back: “Robert has acted on principle. No10 seem to be playing the man, not the ball.”
MPs are poring over the details of Mr Sunak’s new bill that will declare Rwanda a safe country to deport migrants to after the Supreme Court blocked the plan last month.
Ahead of the first vote on the legislation on Tuesday evening, it has been criticised by right-wingers who want it toughened up, and left-wing Tories who want to water it down.
A key point for critics is whether potential deportees will have the power to personally appeal.
Critics say this means the whole system will be bogged down once again by spurious complaints.
Yet No10 sources claimed fewer than one in 200 would be able to successfully appeal under the new law.
Mr Jenrick confirmed yesterday he will not support the “weak” bill in its current form, suggesting he would instead abstain on Tuesday’s votes.
He is expected to be joined by several other MPs – however, other rebels last night suggested they would vote for the bill on Tuesday but seek to amend it later.
Such a move would avert a major political crisis for the PM ahead of Christmas, but push the battle over the UK’s relationship with the Strasbourg court into the new year.
Michael Gove defended the legislation as “tough and robust”, saying he was confident of Conservative support for the “legally sound” plans and insisted ministers are not “contemplating” a general election if they lose Tuesday’s vote.
Yet he left the door open to amendments, saying: “Of course, as it goes through its various stages, we will consider thoughtful suggestions about how the legislation can be improved – if those suggestions do come forward”
No10 were sticking to their claim that the bill did not need changing.
A source said: “We are talking to colleagues, but we are confident this bill is extremely robust and makes the routes for any individual challenge vanishing small.
“This is the strongest possible piece of legislation to get Rwanda operational.”
They point to modelling that showed nine out of 10 would not qualify for appeal under the tough wording of the bill.
Leading right-winger Sir Bill Cash said his “star chamber” of lawyers and experts did not believe the bill went far enough to get flights off in its current form.
But he left the door open to changes, giving MPs the chance to swerve a full scale rebellion.
On the left, Damian Green and his band of moderate One Nation Conservatives will meet tomorrow to make up their minds whether to oppose the legislation over concerns about breaking international law and deeming Rwanda “safe”.
The former de-facto deputy prime minister played down the “very, very small number” of colleagues who are agitating for a new leader.
He told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “It’s a vanishingly small number and anyone who thinks that what the Conservative Party or the country needs is a change in Prime Minister is either mad or malicious or both.”
Labour will whip to vote against the bill, meaning a rebellion by just 28 Tories could defeat the legislation central to Mr Sunak’s scheme.
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