Rwanda bill – latest: Sunak to hold press conference after seeing off rebellion on flagship deportation plan

Home Office minister Chris Philp insisted he would not need to advise civil servants to break international law to override so-called rule 39 injunctions on the Rwanda plan.

Asked whether he would be advising officials to disregard international obligations if Strasbourg orders threaten to obstruct flights taking off, he told BBC Breakfast: “No, because international law means our treaty obligations to be clear.

“There is no reference in the treaty we signed back in 1950 to these rule 39 injunctions and the power provided for in the Bill is a lawful power.”

Home Office minister Chris Philp said Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill should pass through the Lords “fairly fast” because it is relatively short.

The legislation is expected to face serious challenges in the upper chamber.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Philp said: “It’s a pretty short Bill, which means it should be able to get through the House of Lords fairly fast.”

Rishi Sunak has faced down rebels within his own party to win a showdown Commons vote as he fights to save his flagship Rwanda policy.

MPs passed the embattled prime minister’s controversial deportation bill by 320 votes to 276, after most Conservative rebels “wimped out” of a threatened revolt.

Kate Devlin and Adam Forrest report:

Sunak will hold a press conference in the briefing room at No 9 Downing Street this morning.

He is expected to speak shortly after 9.50am and will give an update on the Rwanda plan and the government’s other immigration policies.

It comes after the Rwanda plan passed its third reading in the Commons last night.

The Rwanda Bill having passed the Lower House will now move on to the Lords.

The debates will start again from the first reading, which could result in political ‘ping pong’ the bill being sent back to the Commons for more changes.

If it passes its third reading in the Lords, the bill will move on to any final considerations of amendments before it gains Royal Assent and finally becomes UK law.

Rishi Sunak has made the Rwanda policy — first proposed in 2022 while Boris Johnson was in No 10 — central to his premiership, forming part of his pledge to stop small boats of migrants from coming to Britain by the English Channel.

He has tried to tread a middle path with his Safety of Rwanda Bill, aiming to avoid a damaging rebellion on the right of the party while keeping liberal so-called One Nation Conservatives content that the legislation does not breach the UK’s international commitments on human rights.

The legislation, along with a recently signed treaty with Kigali, is aimed at ensuring the scheme is legally watertight after a Supreme Court ruling against it last year.

The UK has sent £240m to Rwanda, with a further £50m expected but no asylum seekers have so far made the trip.

Paul Kagame told the BBC earlier: “It’s only going to be used if those people will come. If they don’t come, we can return the money.”

It comes after Rishi Sunak faced down a rebellion in his own party to claim victory in a crucial Commons vote on his Rwanda bill.

It came after government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the country has “no obligation” to return any of the funds already paid.

The Times is reporting a YouGov poll which dangles Rishi Sunak on the edge of electoral oblivion.

The poll puts support for the Conservatives as low as 20 per cent a figure lower than before Liz Truss was forced out of office in October 2022.

Therese Coffey stood up in the Commons to proclaim her shock the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper “can’t even get the country right,” when she made reference to Kigali in the debate proceeding the Rwanda vote.

Kigali is, of course, the capital of Rwanda and Cooper is seen sniggering at the political fumble.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Tonight is no victory for Rishi Sunak, no matter how he might try to twist it.

“Days of Conservative chaos and infighting has left the Prime Minister’s authority shot. He has proved again and again that he cannot lead his own party, let alone the country.

“All to push through a policy that is destined to fail and has already taken millions out of the taxpayers’ pocket.

“The British public can see right through this mess. We need a General Election now – to bring an end to this shambolic government once and for all.”