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
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.
Infighting risks ‘sleepwalking’ into Labour government, says Tory MP
Tory MP Philip Davies warned that the party could be “sleepwalking into a Labour government” if the infighting on Rwanda continues.
The right-winger told GB News: “We’re in danger here of sleepwalking into a Labour government … It’s incumbent on all of us in the Conservative party to get behind the prime minister and actually turn our guns rather than on ourselves.”
Jenrick hopes he can persuade Sunak to change Rwanda bill
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick said that he has “hope” that he can persuade Rishi Sunak to make significant changes to the Rwanda bill.
“The public expect us to secure our borders so I will always fight for that and I am pleased that it sounds as if there is a way forward where we can make the bill better,” said the hardliner – who abstained on last night’s vote.
Asked if he thought Mr Sunak could make changes, Mr Jenrick said: “I certainly hope so. He shares my determination to fight this issue.”
Sunak promises ‘transitional arrangements’ for those hit by family visa changes
Rishi Sunak was probed on family visa system changes – announced as part of his legal immigration crackdown – which means any overseas worker earning less than £38,700 will struggled to bring a spouse to the UK.
With uncertainty over what happens to families already in the UK, Labour MP Stephen Timms asked whether they would be exempt when visas were due for renewal.
Mr Sunak replied: “The family immigration route as he knows does contain provision for exceptional circumstances, but more generally it’s also right … to look at transitional arrangements to ensure that they are fair.”
He added: “The Home Office are actively looking at this and will set out further information shortly.”
Tory MP Nick Fletcher compared to Enoch Powell after ‘disgraceful’ rant in Rwanda debate
A Tory MP has come under fire for claiming immigration has turned parts of the UK into a “ghetto” and that NHS waiting lists are long in some areas because “people do not speak English”.
In an inflammatory intervention that drew comparisons with Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, MP for Doncaster Nick Fletcher said his constituency was “full” of immigrants as he railed against “left-wing” lawyers who he claimed were trying to scupper the government’s Rwanda plan.
“It’s happening in Doncaster and it’s happening in places throughout this country, and we are turning parts of our community into a ghetto, and this is what is happening,” Mr Fletcher told MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Tory MP compared to Enoch Powell after ‘disgraceful’ rant in Rwanda debate
Sunak ‘gets on’ with Italian PM, says No 10 when asked about Rome trip
Rishi Sunak is pencilled in to head to Italy this weekend, as a surprise guest at a political festival run by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right Brothers of Italy party.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said Mr Sunak and Ms Meloni “get on”.
The No 10 official added: “They obviously get on. They have a like mind on wanting to act on illegal immigration, and they’ve formed an effective working relationship on that.”
‘I’m up for a fight’: Nigel Farage threatens war after ITV boss’s ‘w***er’ gesture
Nigel Farage has embarked on a war of words with ITV’s director of television, accusing him of making life “quite unpleasant” and warning him against a “war”.
The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader has claimed since leaving I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! that he was deliberately censored and that ITV reduced his airtime and chose to show him naked.
In a short speech during his return to GB News, he said: “It seems whilst I was in there, one or two people at the top of ITV were doing their best to make life quite unpleasant for me.
“I don’t want to spoil the glow that I have after doing I’m a Celebrity and I have no criticisms at all of the production team or anybody involved in that programme but I would say to you Mr Kevin Lygo, the boss of ITV, it’s up to you mate.”
‘I’m up for a fight’: Nigel Farage threatens war after ITV boss’s ‘w***er’ gesture
Sunak will listen to Rwanda bill suggestions – and could meet rebels over Christmas
Pressed on the push from the Tory right on the Rwanda bill, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We will have discussions with colleagues, we will listen to any suggestions on amendments.”
Pushed on whether Mr Sunak would entertain tightening the law in order to further limit the scope for individuals to appeal, the No 10 official replied: “I’m not going to get drawn into drawing lines about what we will or will not consider.”
The PM’s spokesman did not deny Mr Sunak could hold meetings with Tory rebels over the Christmas break, saying only that “Discussions will continue.”
There was no answer to questions about the timetable for the bill in January, but No 10 insisted the bill was an “urgent” and the legislation could still be consider an “emergency”, despite parliamentary recess beginning on Tuesday next week.
Starmer references Christmas song to take swipe at Sunak
Rishi Sunak now as unpopular as Boris Johnson when he quit, poll reveals
Rishi Sunak’s popularity has hit a record low, and he is now as unpopular as Boris Johnson before he was forced out of Downing Street.
As the prime minister battles a civil war on the Tory back benches, his favourability with the public has continued to plunge.
In a damning poll conducted ahead of Tuesday’s crunch vote on Mr Sunak’s Rwanda bill, just 21 per cent of people said they have a positive view of the PM.
That compared with 70 per cent of people who said they view him negatively, leaving his approval rating at -49, a 10-point drop from the end of November. It is also 30 points below Mr Sunak’s rating when he took over as PM.
Rishi Sunak now as unpopular as Boris Johnson when he quit, poll reveals
Rishi Sunak mocked for losing WhatsApp messages despite being a ‘tech bro’
Rishi Sunak has been mocked for losing his WhatsApp messages despite being a “tech bro”.
The prime minister, who often touts his tech-savvy credentials and had a love in with Tesla boss Elon Musk last month, was unable to hand over his WhatsApp messages to the official Covid-19 Inquiry.
The messages, which covered his time as chancellor during the pandemic, had been wiped as Mr Sunak repeatedly changed phones, he claimed.
Labour MP Chris Bryant used the development to launch a stinging attack on the PM, asking: “What is worse: Losing your WhatsApp messages as a tech bro, losing £11.8bn to fraud as chancellor, presiding over the biggest fall in living standards in our history or desperately clinging onto power when you become even more unpopular than Boris Johnson?”
The PM said he was focused on “delivering for the British people”.
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