Rishi Sunak to face crunch verdict tomorrow from FIVE Tory backbench groups after horror week for PM

Rishi Sunak to face crunch verdict tomorrow after horror week for PM

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Christopher Hope

By Christopher Hope


Published: 10/12/2023

- 12:25

Updated: 11/12/2023

- 10:02

The PM has faced criticism from across the spectrum over the Rwanda plans

Tory rightwing MPs are to give their verdict on whether the Rwanda Bill is workable at lunchtime tomorrow, GB News understands, ahead of the crunch second reading vote on Tuesday.

Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Brexit-backing Conservative MP, will present the findings of the "star chamber" to an unprecedented meeting of five backbench Conservative right-wing groups.



Sir Bill will address members of the European Research Group, the Common Sense Group, the Conservative Growth Group, New Conservatives, and the Northern Research Group.

The meeting will take place in the Thatcher Room in the Portcullis House offices in Westminster.

WATCH HERE: Cleverly lays out Rwanda plan

The Star Chamber has been reviewing the details of the plan to allow migrants who arrive in the UK by small boats to be flown to Rwanda for processing.

Tory sources said that the MPs will decide whether to support the legislation tomorrow or if necessary, hold a second meeting on Tuesday ahead of the vote that evening.

In a statement to GB News, Mark Francois, the ERG's chairman, said that Sir Bill and the star chamber had carried out a "forensic examination of the Rwanda Bill".

He said: "The ERG will be meeting tomorrow, from noon onwards, to hear a presentation from Sir Bill Cash on the findings of his ‘Star Chamber’ of legal experts, following their forensic examination of the Rwanda Bill.

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"Under the circumstances, we are also extending an invitation to members of other Backbench Groups within the Conservative family, including the New Conservatives; the Common Sense Group; the Conservative Growth Group and the Northern Research Group.

"We then aim to have a collective discussion about our best approach to the Second Reading of the Bill, on Tuesday.

"Perhaps appropriately (and not least given much recent interest in her achievements) the meeting will be taking place in the Thatcher Room, in Portcullis House."

Hours after the meeting of the Tory rightwingers, the left of centre One Nation caucus of 100 Conservative MPs will meet to discuss the Rwanda Plan, with a statement due at around 7pm.

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