Rishi Sunak, the British chancellor of the exchequer, is facing a tough time as he seeks to persuade right-wing Conservative Party members to back his flagship Rwanda bill. The proposed legislation has drawn criticism from the right, who want it to be stronger, while more centrist party members are warning against changes. The situation has been described by some newspapers as a “standoff,” and is seen as one of the most significant tests of Sunak’s leadership thus far.
Ahead of the vote in the House of Commons, former defence minister Ben Wallace issued a warning to Tory rebels that voting against the Rwanda bill would be a mistake. Wallace urged his colleagues not to “make the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good,” saying that voting down the bill could hurt the government.
Tuesday’s vote is viewed as critical for Sunak, with some reports suggesting that a defeat could sink his leadership. The Daily Mail has gone so far as to say that the vote is going “down to the wire.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson is said to be holding talks with rebel MPs in an effort to prevent a defeat.
In other news, the Financial Times has reported that the COP28 UN climate talks are at risk of collapsing over a draft agreement that some nations view as too weak. The draft agreement removed earlier language calling for fossil fuels to be “phased out.” Meanwhile, the Guardian has focused on the same subject, quoting the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, Cedric Schuster, as saying “We will not sign our death certificate” in relation to the negotiations.
Away from politics, the Sun has drawn attention to a dispute between world boxing champion Tyson Fury and Cheshire East Council over a council tax bill. Meanwhile, the Daily Star has provided a more lighthearted story, reporting that Christmas parties are set to be “wild” this year, with many employees eager to get together in person after months of working from home
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