Flights a step closer as rebels fail to sink flagship Rwanda Bill

TORY rebels caved in over the Rwanda plans last night after a day of high drama in the Commons.

- Sam Lister and Michael Knowles

Government's Rishi Sunak won a majority of 44 in the vote on the Safety of Rwanda Bill - 320-276- despite a threatened revolt by the right of his party. Just 11 Conservatives defied the Prime Minister to vote against his Bill including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

Another 18 Conservatives abstained including Lee Anderson who quit as deputy party chairman on Tuesday, former PM Theresa May, and senior backbenchers Sir John Redwood and Sir John Hayes.

A No 10 spokesman said afterwards: "The passing of the Bill tonight marks a major step in our plan to stop the boats.

"This is the toughest legislation ever introduced in Parliament to tackle illegal migration and will make clear if you come here illegally you will not be able to stay.

Landmark

"It is this Government and the Conservative Party who have got boat crossings down by more than a third. We have a plan, we have made progress and this landmark legislation will ensure we get flights off to Rwanda, deter people from making perilous journeys across the channel and stop the boats." Home Secretary James Cleverly said earlier: "We will do whatever it takes to stop the boats. And we have been making progress on that pledge, reducing small boat arrivals by over a third last year.

"But to stop the boats for good we need to deter people from making these dangerous journeys.