The One Nation group of centrist Tories is considering tabling amendments to Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill to protect the controversial legislation against breaches of international law.
Conservative MPs on the party’s moderate wing are concerned the government could cave in to demands from the right to harden the bill to avoid them voting it down in the new year.
Former justice secretary Robert Buckland, a member of the One Nation group, is considering tabling an amendment of his own to make the bill legally more safe so it is compatible with the European convention on human rights, the Guardian can reveal.
With their numbers the amendment might succeed, in which case the lunatics on the right will vote it down. And if the One Nation amendment fails, then they’ll vote it down themselves. You love to see it.
Interesting tactical decision for Labour and the other opposition parties. Vote in favour of the amendment, then against the bill whether or not the amendment passes? Or vote against the amendment and also against the bill? I’m not sure which is most likely to make the bill fail because it depends on the numbers of Tory rebels on different sides of the party, how many of them are willing to actually risk defeating their own government, and whether they then abstain or vote against.