A summary of today's developments
The government suffered two defeats on Wednesday in the House Lords over its Safety of Rwanda bill. Peers voted to accept Motion D1 which adds an exemption to the removal to Rwanda for people who have supported the UK armed forces and their families. The contents voted 247, the not contents 195, meaning the Bill will be sent back to the Commons for debate once again. Earlier, Downing Street said it would not be offering concessions.
Peers also voted to accept Motion B1 which would reinstate the Lords amendment on a monitoring committee to decide when Rwanda is safe. The contents voted 245, the not contents 208.
Labour said it remains “completely confident” that Angela Rayner has complied with all rules after the chief constable of Greater Manchester police said she was facing investigation “over a number of assertions knocking about”. Keir Starmer told MPs he believed the accusation that Rayner lied about her primary residence to avoid tax was a “smear”.
James Daly, the deputy chair of the Conservative party, wrote to Greater Manchester police asking them to investigate Angela Rayner and, when the force initially declined to look into it, he successfully persuaded them to think again. But in media interviews, Daly refused to say what he thinks Rayner did wrong
Labour said it is “deeply concerning” that Rishi Sunak refused to rule out cutting the NHS or pensions, or putting up taxes, to fund his £46bn long-term plan to abolish national insurance in a statement after PMQs.
James Cleverly has criticised the Labour party over the continual delays to the passage of the Rwanda bill.
“Terrified that the Rwanda scheme will work, and desperate to delay or disrupt over a hundred votes about stopping the boats, Labour have acted again to block the passage of the Rwanda bill,” the home secretary said.
