Later today, the prime minister’s “emergency” Rwanda legislation will return to the Commons as he tries to get deportation flights off the ground.
But right-wing rebels in his party have proposed amendments to make the bill “tougher” – and last night, Tory party deputy chairs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith announced they will back the rebel changes.
Asked if the pair should be sacked for going against the government, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Sky News: “I understand why they and others feel very strongly about legislation that’s going through parliament.”
He repeated a line used by the PM yesterday, saying: “We are all united in very firmly understanding that we need a deterrent – and the National Crime Agency has made this clear as well – in order to break the model and stop the boats coming across to our shores.”
Pushed on whether the pair should have to toe the party line, he declined to say, telling Sky News: “Those are matters for others, not me.”
Mr Stride then pivoted to saying that the Labour Party has “no plan” to stop small boat crossings.
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