Rwanda bill vote LIVE: Sunak warned Tories may never win power again as debate begins

Robert Jenrick claimed it was “critical” to get the Rwanda deal up and running.

As he spoke about mass migration over the next century, he told MPs: “Some fleeing climate change and persecution, others economic migrants understandably in search of a better life, and it is a great compliment to our country that so many want to come here, but it isn’t sustainable.

“We have to secure our borders and that means that all the good work that we have done over the course of the last year, the Albania deal, the asylum backlog work, the deals with Bulgaria and France and Italy and others, that isn’t enough.

“We are not going to stop the boats purely on that work. You have to interject the strongest possible deterrent and the best deterrent, the only deterrent that we can use in the course of the next 12 months is the Rwanda deal.

“That is why it is so critical that we get that up and running.”

He later claimed one of the “big flaws” with the Bill as it exists is “that it doesn’t address the question of individual claims”.

Graham Stuart will arrive back in the UK to vote on what is seen as a crucial test of Rishi Sunak’s leadership as Prime Minister.

As many as 40 Tory MPs are believed to be prepared to abstain or vote against the Bill, arguing that it does not go far enough in preventing people from stopping themselves being deported through legal action.

With just hours to go before the key Commons showdown on Rwanda, Tory rebels are still weighing up whether to vote against or abstain on Rishi Sunak’s plan.

Abstaining increases the chance that the PM’s ‘emergency legislation’ lives to fight another day – or, at least, until the next Commons vote in the new year.

Why would those who oppose the legislation allow it to continue its passage through the Commons?

The key is at the next stage it could theoretically be amended.

Some opponents of the current plan believe it will never stop the boats.

Other are tempted to allow it to proceed to the next stage to see if it could be made stronger.

Groups on the right of the party are meeting to discuss the issue at 5pm today.

There is pressure from some MPs for the groups to decide on an agreed line – and to vote in unison – as a show of power to the prime minister.

Rishi Sunak is hiding behind the Rwandan government and is too “weak” to defend his own plan, Labour has said.

Speaking in the Commons, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said of Mr Sunak’s meeting with backbenchers on Tuesday morning: “The Prime Minister forced into an emergency breakfast meeting this morning, less a smoked salmon offensive, and more buttering them up with butties and bacon and a side of briefing and backstabbing.

“Promising them amendments and then rowing back, telling them he really wants to break international law but the Rwandan government won’t let him, hiding behind the Kigali administration because he is too weak to even defend his plan.

“Weak, weak, weak. The Prime Minister says his patience is wearing thin, well how do they think the country feels.”

Rishi Sunak attempted to persuade rebels to back his controversial Rwanda bill over bacon sarnies in No 10 this morning.

The prime minister went around the room allowing every one of the 20 or so Tory MPs in the room around a minute or so to make their case, sources said.

They also said he was confronted by one backbencher who challenged him that he had reached out to the government numerous times to discuss the issue – and heard nothing back.

Also understood to have been at the meeting was outspoken Tory MP Lee Anderson, who has long been a hardliner on the issue of small boats.

He might ordinarily have been expected to be part of the rebel group – but as he is now a deputy chairman of the Tory party he was on the PM’s side, which has caused anger among some.

One said: “It is for Lee to have to answer for all the things he had said in media. But (supporting the bill) is an odd place for him to be in.”

James Cleverly said Rwanda should “get our thanks and admiration”.

Speaking about the Bill, the Home Secretary told the Commons: “This is how we will overcome the intolerable pressure on taxpayers, on public services, and on local communities that illegal immigration creates.”

He added: “Rwanda stands ready, stands ready to welcome those new arrivals. They stand ready, they stand ready, to find a solution, to work with us to find a solution, on this global issue, rather than being part of a problem.

“And for that, I believe they should get our thanks and admiration. This is an innovative and humane solution to a growing global problem.”

The British people expect MPs to “stop the boats” and “that is what voting for this legislation means”, Home Secretary James Cleverly told the Commons.

He said: “I want to extend an offer to the whole House. Colleagues across this House must know how much this matters to our constituents.

“Our voters, for whatever party they vote for, are warm and welcoming people to those in genuine need.”

He added: “But the British people rightly expect everyone to play by the rules, and they expect us in this House to do what it takes to stop the boats.

“That is what voting for this legislation means. Our voters are horrified when they see images of people drowning in the Channel. They are horrified when they see those people smugglers taking advantage of people, they want an end to illegal migration.

“This Government has a plan that will provide an alternative home for illegal arrivals to the UK and to deter others from coming here illegally.”

Yvette Cooper has said it would take 100 years to send the number of asylum seekers to Rwanda who will have arrived in the UK by the time flights get off the ground.

Highlighting Rishi Sunak’s target to get deportation flights in the sky by July, she said more than 15,000 people would have crossed the channel in small boats by then.

“So if Rwanda is only going to take a hundred people a year, it’s going to take over 100 years to send the 15,000 people who have arrived since they passed the law,” Ms Cooper said. “It’ll take them 10 years to send everyone who’s arrived in the last fortnight alone,” she said.