Boris backs rebels in clash with Rishi over Rwanda Bill

RISHI SUNAK clashed with Tory Right-wingers backed by Boris Johnson in a high-stakes Commons showdown over the Government’s f lagship Rwanda Bill today.

- Nicholas Cecil

The Prime Minister was set to dig in this afternoon against more than 60 backbenchers demanding changes to the legislation, including Tory party deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith.

Despite threats from some Rightwing hardliners, including ex-home secretary Suella Braverman, to vote to kill the Bill if it is not amended, Mr Sunak was expected to get it through the Commons.

Only a relatively small number of Tory MPs were believed to be prepared to vote with Labour, if the amendments are rejected, to block the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

But Mr Sunak was still being hit by a furious onslaught to change the Bill in another explosion of Tory civil war. Ahead of six hours of debate on the Bill, ex-PM Mr Johnson waded into the Tory infighting, backing the rebels.

“This Bill must be as legally robust as possible — and the right course is to adopt the amendments,” he tweeted.