Rishi Sunak faces new Rwanda revolt from Tory left in fresh party turmoil - live
Moderates say they could join right-wing MPs in pushing PM to change migrants deportation bill
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Rishi Sunak has been hit by a fresh headache on his flagship Rwanda bill, as senior Conservatives on the left said they would join right-wing rebels in pushing for changes ahead of an expected second vote in January.
The embattled PM had believed he could count on Tory MPs in the moderate “One Nation” wing, as he fights to appease their rivals on the right who are demanding tougher deportation legislation.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk suggested the government would not cede to right-wingers by toughening up the bill, despite their threats to vote it down.
But, as No 10 prepares for crunch talks with the right-wingers over Christmas, senior Tory moderates told The Independent they were considering how to amend the bill to soften it.
Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer mocked Tory MPs who criticised Rishi Sunak in the press in PMQs.
The Labour leader goaded the Tory benches, saying: “Come on, come on. Who was it who said he’s a really bad politician? Hands up.”
Meanwhile, Mark Drakeford announced he was standing down as Welsh Labour leader, triggering a contest to find his successor.
Sir Keir Starmer begins by paying tribute to the young man who died on the Bibbi Stockholm barge.
Sunak begins PMQs
Rishi Sunak has stood for his first PMQs since winning the Rwanda vote on Tuesday evening. Stay tuned while we keep you updated with the latest from today’s session.
Watch live as Sunak faces Starmer at PMQs after winning Rwanda vote
Watch live as Rishi Sunak faces questions from Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 13 December, after winning a crunch vote on the Safety of Rwanda Bill last night.
‘No one knows what you just said’: James Cleverly clashes with Ed Balls over Rwanda
Home Secretary James Cleverly clashed with Good Morning Britain host and former Labour MP Ed Balls in a heated discussion on the Rwanda deportation policy on Wednesday (13 December). Prime Minister Rishi Sunak won a crunch vote on the Safety of Rwanda Bill after spending the day in talks with potential rebels to avoid a defeat on his flagship “stop the boats” pledge. On Wednesday, the GMB presenter asked Mr Cleverly: “If there was a coup a day after it became law would Rwanda still be a safe country?” Mr Cleverly failed to answer the question and instead discussed the policy. Mr Balls claims: “No one knows what you just said.” “If you didn’t talk over me Ed then perhaps they would,” Mr Cleverly replies.
Sunak’s popularity hits new low, poll suggests
Rishi Sunak’s popularity appears to have hit an all-time low, according to a new poll by YouGov.
Asked in polling conducted ahead of the Commons vote, 70 per cent of Britons said they had an unfavourable opinion of Rishi Sunak, compared to only 21 per cent with a favourable view.
This gives the prime minister his lowest ever net favourability score of -49 – a ten point drop from late November.
Michael Gove ‘capitulating’ to nimbys with moves to block new homes, say developers
Cabinet minister Michael Gove was accused of “capitulating” to nimby Tory MPs and campaigners after a fresh move to let councils reject housebuilding targets.
Local authorities will no longer have to earmark greenfield land for housing, under new changes to the planning system said to have been made by Mr Gove’s levelling up department.
Mr Gove will allow councils to slash the number of planned homes if development would significantly change the character of an area, according to The Times.
Adam Forrest reports:
Michael Gove ‘capitulating’ to nimbys by blocking new homes, say developers
‘Capitulation to a nimby faction of the Conservative party’, say housebuilders on changes to planning system
Tory divisions ‘completely stupid’, says Tory MP
Some Tory MPs who spoke in Commons Tuesday were not impressed by the flurry of meetings with the “five families” on Conservatives on the right.
Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price, a former minister, said: “I really question how we have got into this ridiculous place this week where these benches are all falling out with each other over a small element of a bigger policy. It is completely stupid.”
Sir Edward Leigh added: “I hear of all these different groups. You know, a house divided is a house that is going to be destroyed. We have to work together. There is no other solution.”
Farage returns to UK warning Tories that Sunak faces ‘catastrophic’ defeat
Rishi Sunak is heading for “catastrophic” defeat at the general election, Nigel Farage has predicted.
The former Brexit Party leader said it was “fascinating” that polling suggested he was more popular with Tory voters than the Prime Minister following his stint on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!
As he arrived back in the UK following his time in the jungle, Mr Farage said his popularity with Conservative voters was “very flattering” and it would “take some time” for him to decide on his next move.
He told the PA news agency that the Prime Minister’s battle with his own side to win Tuesday’s Commons vote on the Rwanda plan showed the difficulties Mr Sunak was in.
“This Government’s in desperate trouble, headed for catastrophic defeat,” he said.
Farage returns to UK warning Tories that Sunak faces ‘catastrophic’ defeat
Nigel Farage said it was ‘fascinating’ that his own popularity with Tory voters was greater than Rishi Sunak’s.
Does the Tory right have the numbers to defeat Sunak?
While there is scepticism about the number of MPs who will actually be willing to vote against the bill, a revolt by the 29 Tories who abstained could be enough to defeat the government.
The group of around 40 or so right-wingers who attended the “five families” meeting on Tuesday were said to be evenly split between abstaining or voting against.
Some right-wingers claim the 29 abstentions underestimate the number of potential rebels, unhappy with the bill, who could vote it down at the showdown third reading stage.-
Others think some who abstained will back the bill when it comes to the crunch. “Almost like the right are all talk,” one Tory moderate told Politico. “This was the moment of maximum leverage for opponents of the bill and the government rightly told them to f*** off,” another senior Tory MP who backed the bill told the FT.
Watch live as Michelle Donelan grilled over AI regulation by select committee
Watch live as Michelle Donelan is questioned on artificial intelligence (AI) governance by MPs from parliament’s science, innovation and technology committee.
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