British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is encountering a substantial right-wing rebellion within his party over key immigration legislation designed to expedite the deportation of asylum seekers to

Rwanda. This poses a critical test of his authority.

Two chairmen of the Conservative Party expressed readiness to defy Sunak by voting to strengthen the legislation, which aims to prevent asylum seekers from filing additional court challenges against their deportations. The party is divided on the bill, with some lawmakers asserting it goes too far, while others argue it doesn't go far enough.

The rebellion is poised to escalate, with the threat of some Conservatives voting against the government in the final parliamentary stage. The bill is intended to block asylum seekers from initiating further legal challenges to their deportations, and unless amendments are accepted, discontented lawmakers may vote against the government during the final stage in the House of Commons.

In response to concerns that the legislation may lead to a backlog of asylum appeals, the government proposed plans to recruit additional judges and staff to address the issue. However, critics argue that the rebels have enough support to defeat Sunak in the final vote, emphasizing the need for effective legislation.

Sunak has prioritized preventing asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel in small boats, framing it as a central objective of his government. The ongoing disagreement within the Conservative Party poses a substantial challenge to Sunak's leadership and underscores the divisions within the party on immigration policy. Photo by Arthur Buliva, Wikimedia commons.