Rishi Sunak Faces Key Rwanda Vote Amids Tory Deputy Chairmen Resignations

Rishi Sunak is to face a pivotal vote on his Rwanda bill as two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide resign in rebellion. Lee Anderson, Brendan Clarke-Smith, and Jane Stevenson stepped down on Tuesday to support amendments aimed at strengthening the legislation. 

Despite 60 Tory MPs backing rebel amendments, No 10 remains confident that the bill will ultimately pass, though preparations for potential concessions are underway.

MPs are set to continue debating proposed changes to the legislation, which seeks to deter Channel crossings by reviving the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda - in the Commons on Wednesday, with the bill put to a vote afterwards if it remains unamended.

If about 30 Tory MPs join opposition parties in voting against the bill at its final Commons hurdle, it could be defeated. So far very few Conservative MPs have wholeheartedly committed to voting against the bill.

At least four Conservative MPs - including former ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman have publicly said they are prepared to vote against the bill if it is not improved. But it is unclear how many more could join them.

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On Tuesday, the proposed amendments to the bill, seeking to prevent the use of international law to obstruct deportations to Rwanda and restrict appeal options, were defeated. 

Despite this, the amendments garnered substantial support from prominent Tories, including former home secretary Mrs Braverman and former prime minister Liz Truss.

Sunak has since resisted yielding to the demands of critics on the right of the party, with potential concessions posing a risk of losing support from more centrist MPs.

Even a government victory would come at a political cost, with debates over the issue exposing the extent of divisions within the Conservative Party.

A significant rebellion would also be damaging to the prime minister, who has made the Rwanda policy central to his pledge to stop small boats crossing the Channel.

Miriam Cates, one of those who voted for Tuesday's amendments, noted that she would "potentially" be prepared to vote against the entire bill.

"But we've got 24 hours which is supposedly a long time in politics. We've got more votes tomorrow on more amendments so we're not at that position yet where we can make that decision," she said.

If it is approved by MPs, the government still faces a challenge to get it through the Lords, where it is likely to encounter further opposition