Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in the Downing Street Briefing Room, in London, Britain December 7, 2023. James Manning/Pool via REUTERS
In a turbulent turn of events, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finds himself entangled in a fierce internal battle within the Conservative party, attempting to rally support for his controversial plan to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda. The dissent within his own ranks, underscored by the recent resignation of his immigration minister, threatens to undermine Sunak’s leadership barely a year into his tenure.
Addressing the press at Downing Street, Sunak appealed for unity behind his proposed legislation, designed to quell the uprising on the party’s right wing demanding a departure from international treaties governing migration policies. However, the specter of a leadership challenge looms large, with murmurs among Conservative lawmakers suggesting a potential revolt against the beleaguered prime minister.
Sunak defended his legislation at the press conference, contending that it addressed most concerns raised by his colleagues. He emphasized the delicate balance, warning that any further deviation from human rights norms could lead to Rwanda reneging on the asylum seeker relocation deal, leaving the government without a viable alternative.
While Sunak expressed optimism that the bill would put an end to legal disputes surrounding the policy, experts remain skeptical, predicting additional court challenges that could further delay the proposed springtime commencement of flights, initially conceived two years ago.
At the heart of the matter is the government’s reliance on the Rwanda scheme as a linchpin in deterring illegal migration. The recent setback from the Supreme Court, declaring Rwanda unsafe for migrant transfers, dealt a severe blow to Sunak’s already precarious position, as he grapples with economic challenges and a widening poll gap against the Labour party.
The prime minister now faces the uphill task of steering the legislation through parliament, cognizant of potential fissures within his own party. Notably, Sunak refrained from making the bill a vote of confidence in his government, a strategic move to secure party support and avert the triggering of a national election.
As the draft legislation makes its way to the House of Commons, the looming Dec. 12 vote will be a crucial litmus test for Sunak’s leadership. Some Conservative members, for the first time since his ascension to office, hint at the possibility of a leadership challenge. The resignation of the immigration minister is seen by some as a potential catalyst for Sunak’s political downfall.
To quell internal dissent, the chairman of the Conservative Party, Richard Holden, urged against a leadership challenge, emphasizing the need for unity as the party heads into an impending election. Despite Sunak’s recent parliamentary defeat on the compensatory body for victims of the infected blood scandal, the prime minister remains resolute in pushing forward with his asylum seeker relocation plan.
While only one Conservative lawmaker has publicly called for a vote of no confidence, whispers within the party suggest a broader discontent that could coalesce into a more formidable challenge to Sunak’s leadership. The prime minister, undeterred, insists that the legislation, if enacted, would significantly diminish the avenues for asylum seekers to contest their removal, signaling his determination to see the plan through to fruition.
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