'She’s achieved the impossible: she’s made us look back with fondness on the days of Priti.” Suella Braverman’s reign at the Home Office has incited a rebellion against her illegal Migration Bill
A fair chunk of Tory MPs are nervous about the Bill’s refusal to exclude children from its remit, with many finding Braverman’s justification – that an exemption could make it more lucrative for people smugglers to run child-only boats across the English Channel – distinctly thin.
There’s certainly a strong case for removing all under-18s from the scope of the new legislation, but Tory backbenchers believe they have more chance of success if they focus their call for concessions to protect unaccompanied minors. The Government has tried to defuse a possible rebellion with a new amendment that says the Home Secretary “may by regulations specify time limits” to detention. Yet despite intense talks between ministers and MPs, I understand former children’s minister Tim Loughton is expected to push his own, much tougher amendment to a vote.
Yet there are worries that Sunak and Jenrick are similarly trying to oversell their “concessions” on child migrants and on safe and legal routes. And with Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith not expected to push their own amendment on protections for victims of modern slavery, it may be that child detention is the main focus of rebellion this week.
The need to build numbers is why it’s all the more important that senior figures like Priti Patel should finally go public with their private concerns. Although Patel was rumoured to be ready to makein the Commons during the earlier stages of the Bill, the bomb never went off. Several more Tory backbenchers may well follow her lead if she joined Loughton’s principled stand on Wednesday.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Equalities watchdog 'seriously concerned' Illegal Migration Bill will put UK in breach of human rights dutiesThe Equality and Human Rights Commission also fears people could be exposed to 'serious harm' under the provisions in the controversial legislation.
Read more »
Bishop of Durham leads Lords attacks against small boats billA senior bishop in the Lords has condemned Rishi Sunak’s proposed laws to crackdown on Channel migrant crossings, warning the plans will “inflict harm” and force people into “destitution” RichardVaughan1 reports
Read more »
Rwanda: Home secretary will be able to use 'discretion' when considering whether to follow European human rights ordersDeputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden denied the new powers under the government's Illegal Migration Bill would give the government 'carte blanche' to disobey European court orders.
Read more »
Newspaper headlines: 'Activists target Suella' and 'Goodnight Possums'The home secretary's plan to target illegal migration and tributes for entertainer Barry Humphries lead Sunday's papers.
Read more »
SNP slams Tory DWP ministers over benefits sanctionsDavid Linden warned that the replacement for work capability assessments could be 'far more restrictive'.
Read more »
Health Secretary will ask High Court to declare nurses' strike illegal as tensions escalateHealth Secretary will ask High Court to declare nurses' strike illegal as tensions escalate ‘The Government cannot stand by and let unlawful strike action go ahead,’ Steve Barclay said
Read more »