Rishi: I'm open to Tory rebels 'respectable' changes to toughen up our Rwanda plan

RISHI Sunak says he is open to toughening up his Rwanda deportation laws after Tory rebels called for a hardline approach.

- Sam Lister

The Prime Minister is facing a series of fresh battles with backbenchers on both wings of the party when the legislation returns to the Commons in the new year.

Hardliners want tougher reforms that will stop migrants using legal rights to appeal and avoid being put on a flight to Africa.

But Tory centrists have warned they will not back radical changes to a Bill they already have concerns about.

Mr. Sunak said: "I've been very consistently clear, as have all ministers, if there are ways that the legislation can be improved, to be made even more effective, with a respectable legal argument and maintaining the participation of the Rwandans in the scheme, of course, we would be open to that. Who wouldn't be?" The PM won a crunch vote with a 44-strong majority in the Commons on his emergency draft law aimed at reviving the policy to deport some asylum seekers to the East African nation.

Mr Sunak previously insisted the legislation strikes the right balance between the demands of both wings of his party.

He there is only an "inch" between his rescue plan and more radical measures that would risk Rwanda pulling out of the scheme.