UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces a critical juncture in his leadership as lawmakers prepare to decide on his contentious proposal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The divided Conservative Party is grappling with internal conflicts as factions from both the right and center deliberate on how to vote when the controversial legislation goes before parliament on Tuesday.
Sunak has championed the plan as a central component of his commitment to curbing irregular migration, turning the issue into a pivotal battleground ahead of an anticipated general election next year.
The dissent against the proposal within the Conservative Party, spanning both right-wing and centrist factions, threatens the stability of Sunak’s leadership, which has lasted a little over a year.
Following a November ruling by Supreme Court judges declaring the deportation plan illegal due to concerns about Rwanda’s safety, the government introduced a new bill last week.
This legislation seeks to compel judges to view Rwanda as a safe destination and proposes granting UK ministers the authority to overlook certain sections of human rights legislation.
Opposition parties, human rights groups, and moderate Tories opposing potential violations of international law by Britain have expressed fresh concerns about the proposed legislation.
Conversely, some right-wing figures, including former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and ex-home secretary Suella Braverman, argue that the legislation does not go far enough.
A significant number of backbench MPs from various right-wing groups, including the influential European Research Group (ERG), support the bill, calling it the “toughest piece of migration legislation ever put forward by a UK government.”
However, they acknowledge that it presents only a “partial and incomplete solution” and requires substantial amendments.
The centrist One Nation group, with around 100 members, is expected to release its own statement on the matter.
Tuesday’s vote, known as the second reading, marks the first opportunity for MPs to weigh in on the legislation.
While a government bill has not been defeated at this stage in almost 40 years, abstentions could still damage Sunak’s standing.
If the legislation passes, right-wing factions are anticipated to attempt further amendments in subsequent stages, and the House of Lords may have the opportunity to block it.
Sunak, who has staked his commitment to “stop the boats” on the Rwanda scheme, faces the outcome of a vote that has significant implications for his leadership.
The divisive issue has lingered in the courts since June 2022, when the first deportees were halted by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights.
With almost 30,000 irregular migrants crossing the Channel from northern France this year, Sunak’s leadership is under intense scrutiny amid ongoing Tory divisions since the 2016 Brexit vote.
Despite the speculation, Sunak denies that Tuesday’s vote amounts to a confidence test for his leadership.
Some observers suggest that a loss in the vote might prompt him to consider an early election, which must be held by January 2025.
The Conservatives, in power since 2010, have witnessed five prime ministers since the 2016 Brexit vote and currently trail behind the main opposition party, Labour, in opinion polls.
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Rishi Sunak Faces Crucial Vote On Controversial Asylum Policy In Parliament, Rishi Sunak Faces Crucial Vote On Controversial Asylum Policy In Parliament
