18 January 2024 , 07:30
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Rishi Sunak will address the nation from Downing Street today after he survived another day of Tory chaos over his Rwanda policy.
The PM will deliver remarks around 10am before taking questions at a press conference just hours after rebels warned his legislation was "fatally flawed". According to some reports, the Tory leader will use his address on Thursday to call on the House of Lords to back the Rwanda Bill ahead of a major battle in the upper chamber.
After days of threats by factions on the Tory right, just 11 Tory MPs, including ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick voted against. A further 18, including former deputy party chairman Lee Anderson - who dramatically quit in protest on Tuesday - right-winger Jonathan Gullis and ex-PM Theresa May did not cast a vote.
The PM has previously said it is his ambition to have removal flights leaving by the spring. But Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Business Secretary, said he thought it "unlikely" deportations would take place before the next general election, expected in the second half of 2024, after amendments to the Bill failed.
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"I think it will be very difficult to stop the boats without the strengthening that I was supporting," he told BBC Newsnight.
Sir Jacob was one of dozens of rebels who supported Mr Jenrick's amendment on Wednesday, which was designed to allow UK ministers to ignore flight-grounding emergency injunctions by European judges, but then backed the legislation at third reading.
Despite the Bill expected to face serious challenges in the upper chamber, the Home Office minister Chris Philp insisted the Bill should pass through the Lords "fairly fast" because it is relatively short. Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Philp added: "It's a pretty short Bill, which means it should be able to get through the House of Lords fairly fast."
As the Tory civil war unfolded in Westminster, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame said on Wednesday he is getting frustrated with long delays - and hinted he could refund UK taxpayers' money if flights never take off. Mr Kagame told reporters there are "limits for how long this can drag on." And he said: "The money is going to be used on those people who will come. If they don't come we can return the money."
Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo later cast doubt on the remark, saying the African nation has "no obligation" to return any of the cash. She said if the UK requested a refund "we will consider this". This would only apply to a portion of funds specifically allocated for support for migrants, she added.
Labour called on Mr Sunak to claw back the money. So far the UK has given £240million to Rwanda, and in April a further £50million payment is due. The Government has refused to say how much more it has promised, but confirmed there will be annual payments in 2025 and 2026 - thought to be £50million per year. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "If Rwanda says we can have the money back from this failing scheme, Rishi Sunak should seize the chance, instead of dragging out this Tory asylum chaos any longer."