Tory Deputy Chairs Quit As Rwanda Bill Rebellion Gains Momentum

Conservative MPs Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke Smith have quit their roles as deputy chairmen of the Tory party in order to vote for amendments to Rishi Sunak's Rwanda legislation, against Government instruction.

The pair resigned on Tuesday night ahead of House of Commons votes on amendments put forward by MPs on the right of the parliamentary Conservative party. MP Jane Stevenson, parliamentary private secretary to the secretary of state for business and trade Kemi Badenoch has also resigned from her position after breaking to government whip to vote for the amendments. 

They were told by Government Whips that they would not be able to stay in their roles if they defied the Prime Minister by voting for the proposed changes, which seek to harden the bill.

Anderson and Clarke Smith belong to a faction of Tory MPs who argue that the legislation in its current form does not go far enough to stop legal challenges blocking deportations to the East African country.

Fifty-eight Conservative MPs voted for the rebel amendments tabled by ex-home office minister Robert Jenrick and senior Brexiteer Bill Cash on Tuesday night. As well as Anderson and Clarke Smith they include former prime minister Liz Truss, ex-Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, and influential backbencher Jake Berry. 

I have offered my resignation as a PPS this evening. I don't consider my votes to have been anti-Govt, but they do warrant resignation. In the Chamber earlier I paid tribute to @RishiSunak's work so far & welcomed his commitment made in Rome in Dec to lead talks on