Rwanda bill – latest: Rishi Sunak pushes Tory MPs to back ‘stop the boats’ plan ahead of crunch vote
Prime minister faces mounting rebellion over flagship immigration policy
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Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak is staging a last-ditch bid to win over right-wing Conservatives MPs threatening to defeat his Rwanda deportation legislation.
The PM faces a mounting rebellion over the flagship immigration policy, with Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith poised to back rebel amendments to the bill.
Mr Anderson and Mr Clarke-Smith said they would defy the Government by joining more than 60 Tory MPs who are seeking to disapply international law from the Bill and curtail asylum seekers’ rights to appeal against flights to Kigali.
But any attempt by Mr Sunak to placate them would be opposed by more moderate Tories, who are keen to protect the legislation against breaches of international law.
It comes as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has concluded after a legal assessment of the UK government’s new Rwanda bill that it’s not compatible with international law.
The UNHCR said the modified Rwanda scheme “does not meet the required standards relating to the legality and appropriateness of the transfer of asylum seekers and is not compatible with international refugee law”.
No 10 ‘confident’ Rwanda will improve asylum systems in time for treaty to be ratified
Downing Street said it was “confident” Rwanda would implement improved measures into its asylum system in time for a new treaty with the UK being ratified by parliament.
It comes after the House of Lords International Agreements Committee said “significant legal and practical steps” must be taken before Rwanda can be deemed safe and the treaty approved by Westminster.
Asked whether ministers would be following through on the committee’s recommendations, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: “So I think more broadly on the process, we will let it follow its course as it is looked at in the Lords. We will consider issues that are raised — motions and amendments — in the usual way.”
On the matter of the treaty, she said: “In terms of the improvements and the assurances that we have with the government of Rwanda, we are confident that there will be implementation of all of those measures in line with the timelines for the treaty.
“So those assurances that we provided, which responded to issues raised by the Supreme Court, will be in place when we get flights off the ground.”
Asked whether the government would comply if peers pass a motion designed to provide assurances over the treaty, the spokeswoman said: “I’m not going to get ahead of parliamentary processes and processes in the Lord’s — that starts to get into hypotheticals.”
Sunak: I won’t pack more peers into Lords to get Rwanda Bill through
Rishi Sunak played down the prospect of putting more peers into the House of Lords to pass the Rwanda Bill.
Speaking to reporters in Hampshire, he said: “We shouldn’t be talking about these things because the House of Lords will be able to see that this is part of the strong majority in the Commons, they can see that this is a national priority.
“And I would urge them strongly to crack on with it because we all just want to get this done.
“The country is fed up and frustrated with the merry-go-round on this topic.
“I think people can appreciate that we have made progress last year, but we now need to finish the job and that’s why we should pass this scheme as quickly as possible.”
Sunak: I’m determined to get Rwanda bill through Lords
Rishi Sunak said that he is “determined” to get his Rwanda Bill through parliament, with the legislation set for stern opposition in the House of Lords.
Speaking to broadcasters while on a visit to Hampshire, the prime minister said: “I think it’s really important that we stop the boats, it’s one of the priorities I set out to the country last year.
“I am pleased our plan is working and that we’re making progress. The numbers last year were down by over a third, that hasn’t happened before, so that shows that we can make a difference here.
“In order to fully solve this problem we need to have a deterrent, so that when people come here illegally they won’t be able to stay and will be removed.
“That is why the Rwanda scheme is so important, and that’s why I’m determined to get it through parliament and get it up and running as quickly as possible so we can properly solve this problem.
“We have got a plan, this plan is working, if we stick with it we can deliver the change people want to see.”
Brexit U-turn as EU citizens who missed residency deadline allowed to stay in UK
Rishi Sunak’s government has made a U-turn on residency rights of EU citizens which makes it easier for them to stay in the UK.
New guidance from the Home Office says it will no longer block Europeans making late applications for settled status if they were unaware of the Brexit scheme.
Brexit U-turn as EU citizens who missed deadline allowed to stay in UK
Campaigners warn most who missed deadline will still need legal support and ‘bend the knee’ for settled status
Hunt urges Trump not to return to economic protectionsim
Jeremy Hunt has urged Donald Trump not to return to economic protection if he wins the US presidential election.
The former president pursued an “America first” policy while in the White House and has floated an automatic 10 per cent tariff and all goods imported to the US if he beats Joe Biden this year.
“I don’t support protectionist measures,” the chancellor said when asked at the Davos summit if he was concerned about the potential impact a Trump presidency could have on the UK economy.
“I think they harm the people who introduce them as much as the people they are aimed at.”
‘Completely ridiculous’ to exclude women from football punditry - Sunak
Rishi Sunak suggested it is “completely ridiculous” to exclude women from football punditry and said he would love for one of his daughters to grow up to be a commentator.
The prime minister said the profession should be “open to everybody”.
His comments come after sports minister Stuart Andrew condemned “dangerous” comments made by former footballer Joey Barton about women football pundits.
Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Hampshire, he said: “I listen to all sorts of conversations and they’re all great. It shouldn’t really matter really, quite frankly.
“I mean, what we care about is the quality of the commentating and… I don’t get to watch or listen to as much football as I’d like… but obviously, that’s completely ridiculous.
“I have two young girls and I’d love it if one of them wanted to be a football commentator when they grew up but I sadly think that it’s unlikely to happen. I’ve failed to get them into it and support Saints the way I do, but there you go. But yeah, of course it should be open to everybody.”
ICYMI: Rishi Sunak set for titanic battle with Lords over Rwanda bill
Defiant peers have rejected Rishi Sunak’s warning not to frustrate “the will of the people” by opposing his flagship Rwanda legislation, as the prime minister heads for a showdown with the House of Lords.
The PM said his controversial deportation plan is an “urgent national priority” and told the upper chamber it is “now time to pass this bill”.
Kate Devlin and Archie Mitchell report:
PM set for titanic battle with Lords over Rwanda bill
PM warns peers not to ‘frustrate the will of the people’ by opposing his flagship ‘stop the boats’ legislation – as support for the Tories hits a new low with poll putting Labour 27 points ahead
Independent readers share their 2024 general election predictions following dire opinion poll
While some Independent readers are ready to say goodbye to a Conservative government, others were not convinced of the Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Read more here:
Readers share their election predictions following dire opinion poll
While some Independent readers are ready to say goodbye to a Conservative Government, others were not convinced of the Labour leader Keir Starmer
Watch: BBC Question Time audience member grills Emily Thornberry over Rwanda row in heated exchange
BBC Question Time audience member grills MP over Rwanda row in heated exchange
Emily Thornberry was grilled during a heated debate on Rwanda on Thursday night's BBC Question Time (18 January). The Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales was challenged to spell out Labour’s alternative when it came to stopping migrant boats crossing over the English Channel. A frustrated audience member aimed his comments directly at Ms Thornberry and said: “I have to say, I’m not too sure but Emily’s very quick to criticise the plan. “But then what’s your plan? You know, there has to be a plan. We’re a small island. We haven’t got room for everyone.” Ms Thornberry hit back by branding Mr Sunak’s plan a “gimmick” and saying Labour would target human-trafficking gangs.
Ministry of Defence inventory failures ‘led to medicines expiring during tours’
MPs have highlighted how there is a “significant risk to life” due to Ministry of Defence inventory failures that have seen medical supplies issued that passed their expiry date while armed forces were on tour.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it had warned 10 years ago of “waste and fragmentation” in the department’s supply system but that a fresh investigation had found “many of those problems remain unresolved”.
Patrick Daly reports:
Ministry of Defence inventory failures ‘led to medicines expiring during tours’
A committee said the situation in the Royal Navy, which in 2022 said it represented a ‘significant risk to life’, has yet to be adequately resolved.
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