Rebel MPs resign in protest, demanding tougher legislation against Strasbourg judges.

In a dramatic turn of events, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is bracing for a pivotal vote on his controversial Rwanda Bill tonight, as a revolt within the Conservative party intensifies. A staggering 60 Tory MPs, including two high-ranking members Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith, have resigned as party vice-chairmen, advocating for more stringent measures in the legislation pertaining to deportation.

The dissenting MPs, a group that includes ten former Cabinet ministers, are pressuring Sunak to fortify the bill to counteract interference from Strasbourg judges. This unexpected rebellion comes on the heels of a juncture where the government is already grappling with opposition parties poised to thwart the legislation during the Third Reading.

Despite their efforts, the amendments proposed by the rebels were defeated in a vote, leading to the dismissal of Jane Stevenson, a junior government aide aligned with the dissenting faction. The rebels contend that the current bill is susceptible to legal challenges from both individual migrants and the European Court of Human Rights, rendering it practically unworkable.

Rebel ringleaders, Anderson and Clarke-Smith, issued a joint letter to the Prime Minister, stating, “We fully appreciate that 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.”

Boris Johnson, in an unexpected move, has thrown his support behind the revolt, emphasizing the necessity for a legally robust bill. Former Prime Minister Johnson declared, “This bill must be as legally robust as possible — and the right course is to adopt the amendments.”

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has urged colleagues to support the bill on the condition that civil servants are barred from halting deportation flights. The Prime Minister, seeking to quell the rebellion, has verbally pledged to disregard European judges if they issue injunctions. However, rebels are adamant, insisting on changes to primary legislation.

As the tension escalates, former Cabinet Ministers Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, and Sir Simon Clarke have announced their intent to vote against the bill unless substantial changes are implemented. Tory rebel Mark Francois expressed, “I hope very much the Government will listen.”

In the midst of this political turmoil, the Prime Minister faces a challenging day of negotiations in a bid to persuade the rebels and salvage the Rwanda Bill from potential collapse. The outcome of tonight’s vote remains uncertain, with the fate of the legislation hanging in the balance.