'Not voting for it!' Tory rebels ABSTAIN en masse on Rwanda Bill as Rishi Sunak faces knife-edge vote

European Research Group chairman Mark Francois addressed reporters just fifteen miniutes before the Safety of Rwanda Bill division.

Flanked by other Tory rebels, the Rayleigh & Wickford MP said: "We have decided collectively that we cannot support the Bill tonight because of its many omissions.

WATCH NOW: Mark Francois confirms Tory right rebels will abstain on the Safety of Rwanda Bill

"Therefore, while it is down to every individual colleague, ultimately, to decide what to do, collectively we will not be supporting it."

Francois also claimed Sunak is "prepared to entertain tightening the Bill".

The five Tory groups, including the New Conservatives and Common Sense Group, vowed to table the so-called Cash Amendment.

However, the Prime Minister could face a difficult third reading with MPs on the left and right openly discussing voting down the Bill before it passes through the Commons.

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A total of 40 MPs are expected to abstain on tonight's vote.

But the "five families" of Tory rebels, which also include the Northern Research Group and Conservative Future, comprise 100 MPs.

If all MPs associated with the ginger groups were to abstain then the Government would likely lose tonight's division.

Despite refusing to collectively support the Safety of Rwanda Bill, some members of the "five families" have already come out to support the Prime Minister's efforts.

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said yesterday: "As a member of the ERG, I personally will be voting FOR the Rwanda Bill tomorrow at 7pm.

"It is not perfect (no Bill ever is), but I agree with its principle: to deter the slavers providing dangerous channel crossings. Amendments can then be made later in the usual way."

However, other leading members of the "five families" were also keen to stress their disapproval with Sunak's Bill.

Common Sense Group chairman Sir John Hayes said: "We will consider what the Government do next, and what they do next will determine what we do next and that means the third reading of the Bill."

Miriam Cates, a leading MP from the New Conservatives, added: "We all agree that the Bill is defective as it is. We don't believe it will stop the boats; there are too many opportunities for legal challenges.

"But we do support the principle of the Bill to stop the votes and do what we promised to the electorate.

"We have agreed to act collectively to not support the Bill at this stage but be open to amendments from the Government's that would strengthen the Bill significantly at committee stage and third reading."

The result of the Safety of Rwanda Bill's second reading vote is expected at 7.30pm tonight.