LONDON: In a crucial test of his power, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a serious mutiny on Tuesday from right-wing politicians in his party over landmark immigration legislation to expedite the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Before parliamentary votes on the plan on Tuesday and Wednesday, two chairmen of the Conservative Party declared that they were prepared to vote to toughen the law in defiance of Sunak’s decision to join the revolt.
The measure, which attempts to prevent asylum seekers from filing additional legal challenges against their deportations, has caused profound division within Sunak’s party. It is said to go too far by some Conservative lawmakers and not far enough by others.
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There are some Conservatives who are threatening to vote against the government in the chamber of Commons, the lower chamber of parliament, on Wednesday evening if the legislation is not amended.
According to a senior lawmaker, the rebels had enough members to defeat Sunak in the end.
“There is no justification for implementing ineffective legislation,” he declared, noting that the rebels would overthrow the government with the support of just half of those who supported the revisions.
