Tory Deputy Chairs, Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith have both resigned in order to oppose the United Kingdom’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak’s flagship Rwanda immigration plan.
The duo in a joint resignation letter said “whilst our main wish is to strengthen the legislation, this means that in order to vote for amendments we will therefore need to offer you our resignations from our rules”
They also said it was “important in terms of credibility that we are consistent” on arguing that safeguards must be put in place to ensure the Government’s flagship asylum policy is legally watertight.
Jane Stevenson, Kemi Badenoch’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, also voted against the party whip and resigned.
With 60 Tories voting against the government, the scope of the rebellion would be more than enough to sink the Bill and overturn the Government’s working majority of 54, if it were repeated at its final Commons hurdle which is expected later on Wednesday.
It comes as MPs voted 525 to 58, against Conservative former minister Robert Jenrick’s amendment, which was aimed at severely limiting individual asylum seekers’ ability to appeal against being put on a flight to Rwanda.
Labour said the Tory resignations show that even senior members of the party believe “the Conservatives have failed” and accused Rishi Sunak of weakness.
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