As the UK government prepares for a crucial vote on the Rwanda plan, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s authority is being put on the line. The government is engaging in an extensive persuasion campaign, reaching out to MPs through various means including in-person meetings, phone calls, and radio broadcasts. They are also physically tracking down lawmakers to ensure that they are present to vote.
About 20 MPs have been invited to Number 10 Downing Street for breakfast and may be offered incentives to vote in favour of the plan. The government is adamant that the vote will take place as planned, despite knowledge that they will face a significant challenge in obtaining a majority. Some Conservative MPs are expected to abstain or vote against the measure, and the vote is expected to be tight.
The government has been courting Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, hoping to secure their support for the plan. However, it remains to be seen whether they will come to the government’s aid. Meanwhile, the government has been taking a firm stance with MPs by refusing to grant permission for some to miss the vote, including members of the International Development Committee who had planned to travel to the Caribbean.
With the fate of the Rwanda plan and Sunak’s authority in the balance, every vote counts. Should more than 20 Conservative MPs vote against the government, the outcome could spell disaster for Sunak. However, pulling the vote would be seen as an admission of defeat and damage Sunak’s authority, so the government is putting all its efforts into securing a victory
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