Vantage | Why Rishi Sunak is risking his chair for a migration law

In the United Kingdom, a growing rebellion within the Conservative Party is creating political turmoil as more than 100 lawmakers, including members from Rishi Sunak’s own party, voice their opposition to the controversial Rwanda migration law proposed by the Chancellor. This internal dissent has become a focal point, exposing deep divides within the ruling party.

Supreme Court’s verdict The rebellion stems from Sunak’s persistence with the Rwanda migration law, which suffered a significant setback when the UK’s Supreme Court deemed it unlawful just last month. While most leaders might have accepted defeat, Sunak, undeterred, opted to sign a new deal. His Home Secretary recently travelled to Rwanda to ink another agreement with the government, hoping to address the court’s concerns. Sunak’s strategy doesn’t end with signing a new deal. In response to the court’s apprehensions about the treatment of migrants, financial responsibilities and the safety of Rwanda as a destination, the Chancellor is concurrently working on a plan B—an emergency bill designed to assuage these concerns. Keir Starmer raises concerns The opposition, led by Labour leader Keir Starmer, has raised pertinent questions in Parliament, questioning the viability of Sunak’s proposals. This political turmoil has led to a split within the Conservative Party, with two distinct camps emerging. On one side, the hard-right faction, led by Sunak’s former home secretary Suella Braverman, advocates for sidestepping human rights obligations, specifically the UK’s Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights. Braverman’s camp, seeking to settle scores with the prime minister, aligns with those who want Sunak to disregard these obligations. On the other side, a more centrist group, represented by the One Nation Caucus comprising 106 Conservative MPs, firmly upholds human rights as a red line. They refuse to support any effort that dilutes or ignores these fundamental rights. Sunak’s leadership at stake Prime Minister Sunak faces a precarious situation with reports suggesting that he might introduce the bill this week. With a working majority of 56 MPs, any alignment of the two camps against him could result in a significant defeat—the second in a short span of time. Sunak recently lost a vote on establishing a compensation board for the infected blood scandal, a blow to his leadership. The urgency behind Sunak’s political manoeuvers is accentuated by the fact that migration was a pivotal promise in the Tories’ 2019 election campaign. Failing to deliver on this promise, with migration numbers exceeding 7,45,000, has weakened the party’s standing. Sunak is staking his political future on the success of the Rwanda plan, possibly his last gamble to salvage the Tories’ diminishing credibility. Adding to Sunak’s challenges is the impending spectre of a general election. Labour currently enjoys a 20-point lead in opinion polls and if elections were held today or in the near future, the Tories would likely face a defeat. Reports suggest that Sunak might call for early elections next year, hoping to gain ground against Labour. However, with a sluggish economy projected to grow by only 0.7 per cent next year and a declining household income since 2019, the uphill battle for Sunak and the Conservatives seems daunting. As the unelected prime minister, Sunak faces the risk of a tarnished legacy if he leads the Tories to another defeat. The stakes are high and the next moves in this political chess game will determine the fate of both Sunak and the Conservative Party in the coming months. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.