Demonstrators outside parliament protested the illegal migration bill on Monday. Photo: James Manning/PA
Rishi Sunak survived three high-profile Tory uprisings on Monday to push the Small Boat Bill through the House of Commons and throw down the gauntlet to the Lords.
The Prime Minister saw up to 20 Conservative MPs rise up against demands for stricter child custody, protection of victims of modern slavery in the UK and the introduction of safe and legal routes within nine months of the bill passing.
Among those calling for more concessions were Ian Duncan Smith, former Tory leader, Theresa May, former Prime Minister, and Tim Lawton, former Secretary of State for Children who is also a member of the Home Affairs Committee.
< p>However, the government still struck down nine of the Lords' amendments to the bill by a majority of over 50 in the latest round of “ping-pong” between the two houses.
The Irregular Migration Bill returned to the House of Lords on Monday night, with Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick saying “it is time for a clear view of the elected House to prevail.”
A large majority will strengthen the government's position by demanding that the Lords end their standoff with the Commons and not seek to send the bill back to the Commons with a third set of amendments.
Mr. Jenrick warned. that the Lords' amendments would “destroy” the bill by providing “exceptions, reservations or loopholes” that would allow the current “cycle of delays and endless problems” of deportation of migrants to continue.
The bill gives the Home Secretary the power to detain and quickly deport any migrant who arrives illegally in a safe third country such as Rwanda or in their home country.
The amendments, opposed by Conservative MPs, would reduce the absolute time to limit the holding of unaccompanied children to three days (compared to eight proposed by the ministers) and provide additional protection to the victims of modern slavery in the UK.
Mr Lawton said : this bill, I want this bill passed as soon as possible, and I support Rwanda's plan.
“The objection to some of the anti-trafficking measures in the bill is intended to protect the victim and prosecute traffickers, not to undermine the bill. Having stronger guarantees about how we take care of children who have arrived here does not undermine the law, but strengthens it.”
Do you support the plan for migrants in Rwanda? Poll
The government wants to get the bill through Parliament before the summer break starts this Thursday so it can start enacting it later this summer, even though flights to Rwanda have been delayed until at least the New Year to comply with legal regulations.
< p>Mr Jenrick told the House of Commons: “This House voted 18 times last Tuesday, more times than on any other day, for any other bill, and 18 times this House voted in favor of this bill.
“This House sent back to the House of Lords its 20 amendments to the bill, many of which simply drove the carriage and horses through the fabric of legislation. We made reasonable amendments where it was reasonable and it is disappointing to say the least that some of them were rejected.
“I welcome the fact that the 20 issues we discussed last week have now been reduced to nine, but the question now before the House is whether the distinct views of this House, the elected House, should prevail – not only in last week's vote, but during the earlier passing of the bill.
“We believe that inaction is unacceptable, that we must stop the boats, and that this bill is a key part of our plan to achieve this goal.”
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