PM plays for time amid Tory rebellion over Channel migrant laws

Rishi Sunak plays for time amid Tory rebellion over Channel migrant laws with PM set to consider changes to legislation – but rebels warn he ‘will be out of No10’ if he fails to stop the boats

  • Tory rebels table a series of amendments to Rishi Sunak’s Illegal Migration Bill

Rishi Sunak was tonight playing for time in the face of a threatened Tory rebellion over his efforts to introduce new migration laws.

The Prime Minister promised to continue speaking with Conservative backbenchers after they made attempts to amend his Illegal Migration Bill.

A series of changes to the legislation, which is aimed at cracking down on the Channel migrant crisis, have been tabled by MPs.

This includes efforts to toughen the bill in order to remove the influence of the European Court of Human Rights on Britain’s migration policy.

Sir Bill Cash, who is among the Tory rebel ringleaders, tonight revealed he was expecting a commitment from the Government in the House of Commons to ‘improve the bill’ in line with their amendments.

It came after ministers stressed they were ‘in listening mode’ amid the rebellion threat.

MailOnline understands that ministers are due to make a pledge to use Parliament’s upcoming Easter break to consider the rebels’ amendments.

But there were also claims the rebels had yet to be appeased by Government promises, with stark warnings made about the PM’s future in No10 if he did not ‘fix’ the legislation.

The Prime Minister promised to continue speaking with Conservative backbenchers after they made attempts to amend his Illegal Migration Bill

Sir Bill Cash, who is among the Tory rebel ringleaders, revealed he was expecting a commitment from the Government to ‘improve the bill’ in line with their amendments

A series of changes to the legislation, which is aimed at cracking down on the Channel migrant crisis, have been tabled by MPs

Mr Sunak unveiled his Illegal Migration Bill at the beginning of the month as part of his efforts to stem the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.

The PM has also recently agreed a new £500m package with France to crackdown on migrants making the perilous journey to the UK.

Under the bill, anyone arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in a small boat – or any other unauthorised means – would no longer be able to claim asylum in the UK.

They would instead only be eligible for asylum in a ‘safe’ third country, such as Rwanda, and receive a lifetime ban on citizenship or re-entry to the UK.

Some Tory MPs do not believe the legislation is tough enough and have tabled a series of amendments to tighten rules around blocking deportations and migrant accommodation in Britain.

Meanwhile, others on the liberal wing of the Tory party have tabled amendments seeking to pressure Mr Sunak into commiting to establishing more safe routes via which asylum seekers can come to Britain.

Downing Street today said ministers would continue to speak to Tory MPs over the bill, with the PM’s official spokesman telling reporters: ‘On a number of amendments that have been put forward, we do recognise that there is a range of views. This is a complex issue.

‘We will keep seeking to speak constructively with MPs. I am not going to get ahead of the process in terms of how we will respond to specific amendments.’

Speaking in this evening’s debate in the Commons at the bill’s committee stage, veteran backbencher Sir Bill said he was expecting ‘firm assurances’ from ministers. 

‘We have asked the Government to engage with us constructively on these amendments and give us firm assurances today, on the floor of the House, to improve the Bill in the light of our amendments,’ he told MPs.

‘On the basis that they do give such assurances, which I understand they will, I will not press my amendment to a vote.’

Conservative former minister Tim Loughton told the Commons he would push his plans for required safe and legal routes to a vote unless there were ‘substantial reassurances’ from the Government.

On his amendment, known as new clause 13, he said: ‘I will be prepared to move to a vote unless I can have some substantial reassurances from the Government … it makes a requirement on the face of the bill that there will be safe and legal routes as part of this legislation going through.’

Another among the Tory rebels told MailOnline they were expecting the Government to commit to using the Easter recess to consider MPs’ demands and were ‘hoping for meaningful improvements reflecting the aims of our amendments’.

On a visit to Essex this morning, Mr Sunak sought to play down suggestions he and Home Secretary Suella Braverman were at odds over the bill

But Politico’s Playbook quoted a spokesman for the rebels as saying ‘talk of a deal being done are overblown’.

‘The PM is the one who made the promise to stop the boats by Christmas, and these measures take six months to have an impact,’ they added.

‘The Government will either fix this at report stage or the PM will be taking up a position as emeritus professor of government at Stanford University.’

This morning, Mr Sunak sought to play down suggestions he and Home Secretary Suella Braverman were at odds over the bill.

It followed reports she has been privately encouraging rebels on the right in order to pressurise him to toughen up the legislation.

Speaking during a visit to Essex, Mr Sunak said he was confident they had designed a Bill that was ‘robust and effective’ while remaining compliant with the UK’s obligations under international law.

‘The Home Secretary and I have worked incredibly closely for the last two months to get the legislation exactly right,’ he said.

‘This is a tough piece of legislation, the likes of which we haven’t seen. It’s important that it is effective, which it will be.

‘It is also important that we abide by our international obligations. This is a country and a Government that does follow the law.’

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