Rishi Sunak’s push to pass an emergency bill in Rwanda has been dealt a fresh blow after a group of right-wing Tory MPs concluded the legislation was not fit for purpose.
Sir Bill Cash, who chairs the Conservatives’ awaited “star chamber” law exam, said the bill was not “watertight enough” to get deportation flights off the ground.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron has been revealed as helping the fight to keep Tory MPs on the sidelines ahead of a crucial vote in parliament on Tuesday.
But sacked home secretary Suella Braverman piled further pressure on Mr Sunak by questioning his “rather outlandish” claim that going further with the bill would lead to the collapse of the deal with Rwanda.
Claiming that PM is not telling the truth, Sunday Telegraph: “I have been to Rwanda several times and talked a lot with the Rwandan government. “He never raised such concerns.”
Conservatives on both the right and left of the party are considering whether to oppose it in a tight vote Tuesday. Labor will vote against the bill, meaning a rebellion by just 28 Tories could lead to a humiliating defeat.
Sir Bill chaired the so-called “star chamber” of lawyers conducting a review for the European Conservative MPs’ Research Group, but the New Conservatives and others on the right in the Common Sense Group are also awaiting official findings – expected in 2017 – on Monday.
Senior Tory wrote: Telegram They stated that they were assessing “whether the statement is robust enough to meet the government’s policy objectives.”
He said: “It is not like that at the moment. “I hope our report will help the government decide whether the bill in its current form is fit for purpose or whether further changes need to be made, even by the government itself.”
Cabinet minister Michael Gove defended the Rwandan law as “tough and robust” but claimed the government would “take seriously the views” of Sir Bill Cash and others on the right of the Conservative Party.
Mr Gove also denied the Rwanda plan was pointless. “All the reasons we used in the past [to block flights] is resolved [in the bill]The leveling up secretary told Sky News on Sunday.
Lord Cameron and several other ministers are said to be helping the No 10 campaign to persuade Conservative rebels to support the bill. According to the report, the new foreign secretary spoke to Sir Bill for 45 minutes on Friday afternoon. On Sundays.
The Tory right remains angry that the bill leaves open legal challenges from individual asylum seekers. Ms Braverman said: “Everyone who was put on the first flight to Rwanda will have individual compensation claims.”
The ousted conservative leader also expressed concern that the European Court of Human Rights had ignored interim Rule 39 injunctions that blocked the planned flight to Rwanda last year.
“I know our attorney general has advised that ignoring a Rule 39 measure would be a violation of international law, so Rule 39 would block flights,” Ms. Braverman said.
Moderate Conservatives from the One Nation group are worried about telling the courts they should find the East African country is “safe”.
Damian Green, chairman of the group, said: “The power of ministers to make decisions on their own in individual cases is one of the questions that has been raised, and also the aspect of the legislation that claims Rwanda is safe. “Those are our two concerns.”
Some on the right want to go even further in not applying the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). But would-be rebels from across the spectrum are expected to wait until a later stage to try to change Mr Sunak’s plans rather than inflict a humiliating defeat on him this week.
Mr Gove insisted Mr Sunak’s government was “not considering” holding a snap general election if the Rwanda bill was rejected. Asked on Sky Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips He asked if the program was an option: “No, we’re not considering that.”
Senior Tory Robert Hayward has warned Mr Sunak of calling a general election early next year if his bill is deadlocked.
Lord Hayward told Independent: “Single subject choices do not work. “Theresa May thought she had a go at it with Brexit in 2017 and it all collapsed.”
Sir Keir will deliver a speech on Tuesday, the crucial voting day, claiming the Conservatives are “fighting like rats in a sack”.
In a new statement, Mr Sunak claimed Labor was “unfit to govern”, adding: “This week Labor needs to rise above political games for once… They need to act in the national interest.”
But Sir Keir’s party accused the Conservatives of “begging for our votes” to pass legislation that would help revive the £290m Rwanda “gimmick”.
Mr Sunak’s efforts to stop divided MPs from rebelling against the legislation hit another hurdle when a legal assessment revealed Rwanda was given only a “50% at best” chance of success in removing flights to Rwanda.