Rishi Sunak has offered an olive branch to Tory MPs worried that his Rwanda Bill will not lead to migrants being deported to Rwanda by saying that he is open to "bright ideas" to improve it.
The legislation, which the Government hopes will see deportation flights finally taking off by May, is due to return to the Commons for further scrutiny before the end of this month.
Some right wing Tory MPs have said they will vote against the Bill unless it is strengthened to stop lawyers using the European Court of Human Rights to halt deportations of migrants who arrive in the UK illegally across the English Channel.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is expected this week to publish amendments to toughen up the Bill and stop lawyers frustrating Border Force officials’ work.
Rishi Sunak has offered an olive branch to Tory MPs
PA
At a PM Connect event with voters at Accrington Stanley Football Club near Wigan, Lancashire, Sunak was asked how he will convince members of his own party that the Bill was not "legally flawed".
He replied: “If people have bright ideas about how we can make this more effective whilst complying with our international obligations and retaining Rwanda’s participation in the scheme… then of course, I’m open to having those discussions.
"I have worked on it for a very long time, so I’m confident that it is a good deal and it will do the job for us.”
Separately Sunak's spokesman said he was "confident" that the first Rwanda migrant deportation flight will take off this year.
Sunak is keen to get the support from his MPs as his Rwanda Bill will return to the Commons
PA
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "We remain confident that we will have flights in spring.”
Sunak has had to push back against reports in recent days the he has only been a reluctant support of the Rwanda plan.
