Starmer more interested in what 'lefty lawyers' have to say, Sunak says
Sunak says he's determined to "grip the problem".
He quotes what he calls "eminent" lawyers and judges as saying his Rwanda plan will be effective and robust - and jibes that Starmer is more interested in what "lefty lawyers" have to say.
Starmer says Sunak 'hasn't got a clue' on 'missing' people
Starmer now states that the PM "hasn't got a clue where they are, has he?"
He goes on to say "the place they aren't is in Rwanda".
Starmer says that Sunak didn't even believe in the policy, and asks if he wishes he had stuck to his guns.
Sunak says Starmer has 'no values, no conviction and no plan'
"It's the same thing again and again", responds Sunak amid cheers in the House.
He defends his record again, saying the government has helped arrest illegal immigrants and closed their bank accounts.
Sunak continues - after an interruption by the Speaker to calm the House - by saying his plan is working, adding that it is rich to hear Starmer talking about the stopping the boats when he has "no values, no conviction and no plan".
Starmer asks again about 'missing' people
Starmer says that this isn't a plan, it is "a farce". He says only this government could waste hundreds of millions of pounds on a removal policy that doesn't remove anyone.
He jokes that the government couldn't get flights off the ground because they couldn't find a plane, which wins a few laughs.
Starmer asks again what progress Sunak has made in locating the 4,250 people.
Sunak again sidesteps question
Sunak again sidesteps the question, saying it's vital to have a "working deterrent" to stop the boats.
He says it's clear Starmer does not care about solving the problem, has no other plan to do so - and would reverse his [Sunak's] scheme if he was elected.
It would be "back to square one", he repeats.
Starmer says Sunak running a 'farce of a government'
Starmer continues to press on Rwanda, asking how the government could lose 4,250 people.
He goes on to list issues the government has faced, from the funding of HS2 to the row over meeting the Greek PM, which he says shows how Sunak is running a "farce of a government".
House of CommonsCopyright: House of Commons
Sunak defends the government's immigration record
House of CommonsCopyright: House of Commons
Sunak responds by defending his record on immigration, pointing to the government's achievements in preventing people coming to the UK.
He says that the Conservatives have a plan to stop the boats, and it's working.
"With him," says the PM pointing at Starmer, "'we'd just go back to square one."
Starmer asks if Sunak has found 'missing asylum seekers'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer begins by saying he is saddened by the death of Bronson Battersby, a child in Skegness who died in "heart breaking circumstances".
He then says that the government has been forced to admit it lost contact with 85% of the 5,000 people earmarked for removal.
"Has he found them yet? he asks.
Video content
Video caption: Watch: The Labour leader asks the prime minister about 4,250 missing people due to be sent to RwandaWatch: The Labour leader asks the prime minister about 4,250 missing people due to be sent to Rwanda
PMQs begins
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on his feet at the despatch box, ready to take questions from his colleagues in Westminster.
Stick with us and we'll bring you all the key exchanges with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, as well as other politicians from all sides of the House of Commons.
You can also watch the PMQs by pressing Play at the top of the page.
Who’s said what about Sunak’s Rwanda asylum plans
As we've been reporting, yesterday's rebellion has been the biggest the government has suffered for some years. Let's look at some of the reasons behind the MPs' opposition to the bill.
Some Conservatives are unhappy with the proposed law because they think it should go further, while others have criticised the legislation because they believe it breaks international law.
On Tuesday, Conservative deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith and ministerial aide Jane Stevenson resigned from their roles because they wanted to support changes which they said would toughen up the legislation.
But Sunak has claimed that the Rwanda plan is already the toughest immigration law ever proposed. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is leading Tory efforts to rewrite the legislation.
Jenrick told MPs that attempts by Tory rebels to address "flaws" in the Rwanda bill are the "last opportunity" to get the policy right.
Labour says the scheme is an expensive "gimmick" which will not work, and Keir Starmer has accused Sunak of being "taken hostage by his own party".
In fact, it’s the biggest rebellion the government has suffered for some years.
Around 60 of his own MPs defied the prime minister to back changes to toughen up the proposed new law on the Rwanda policy.
So where does it leave him?
The key test comes today when the whole bill – as opposed to individual amendments – is voted on. This is called third reading. It’s the final vote in the Commons before the bill goes to the House of Lords when peers have the chance to suggest changes.
If the government loses at third reading, the whole bill will be defeated. That would be a major blow for the prime minister and almost certainly mean asylum seekers won’t be sent to Rwanda this side of an election. That is not what the rebel MPs from the right of the party want.
So the big question is, will enough of the 60 MPs who defied Rishi Sunak yesterday, do the same when the stakes are much higher today?
Ministers seem confident they can win today. But several of those Conservative MPs who voted today to toughen up the bill have said they will rebel again today if the government doesn’t suggest their own changes.
BBC Verify
Anthony Reuben
Did the government meet its inflation pledge?
.Copyright: .
Although the rate of inflation unexpectedly rose in December, the government has still comfortably met its pledge for inflation to halve in 2023.
The measure it was using was that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the last three months of 2023 should be half of what it was in the same period of 2022.
The figure for the last quarter (October – December) of 2022 was 10.7% and for the last quarter of 2023 it was 4.2%, so that’s been achieved.
The prime minister is having more trouble with some of his other four priorities - you can read more about it here.
Alcohol and tobacco trigger surprise rise in inflation
Another topic that might come up at PMQs shortly is the UK's inflation rate unexpectedly increasing to 4% this morning.
Economists had been forecasting a fall from last month’s 3.9% to 3.7%.
Tobacco and alcohol price rises were the biggest drivers of inflation in December, the Office for National Statistics said.
This was because Chancellor Jeremy Hunt raised duty on tobacco products in the Autumn Statement last November.
But Hunt insisted the government's economic plan to bear down on inflation was still working, saying inflation "doesn't fall in a straight line".
Minister plays down scale of Tory divisions
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
The rebellion against Rishi Sunak's Rwanda policy is a sign of "constructive and robust debate," the immigration minister has said.
Michael Tomlinson, the minister for countering illegal migration, played down the scale of Conservative divisions, telling BBC Breakfast this morning: "Almost every single person, in fact every single person, who stood up on our side on the Conservative side said they want this scheme to work."
Tomlinson said he was "very sorry" about the resignation of two deputy chairmen and a parliamentary private secretary on Tuesday, but that "each and every one of them want this policy to work".
He said there was only "an inch between us on the Conservative benches".
What might we see at PMQs?
Before the Rwanda vote takes place, Rishi Sunak will again face Prime Minister's Questions, a day
after the biggest backbench rebellion of his leadership when 60 Conservative MPs backed changes to the Rwanda bill.
Downing Street is hoping the vast majority
of rebels will not oppose the bill at its final Commons stage tonight, but
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer may draw attention to the fresh Tory divisions
exposed.
Another issue that may feature prominently
is today's surprise rise in December’s inflation rate from 3.9% to 4%, highlighting the continuing cost-of-living
issues.
What happened yesterday?
As we've just mentioned, MPs will vote on the government's Rwanda bill this evening.
Yesterday, they voted on amendments to the bill which aims to revive the government's long-standing plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The bill passed its first vote in Parliament in December 2023, but a second round of voting took place yesterday, and the third and final vote will happen today before the bill moves to the House of Lords.
Conservative deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit yesterday to join about 60 Tory MPs backing an amendment to toughen the legislation.
Amendments tabled by Robert Jenrick - who resigned as immigration minister last year over the Rwanda bill - and veteran Conservative Sir Bill Cash were among those voted on by MPs.
Cash's proposal, which aimed to prevent any international law being used to block someone being removed to Rwanda, was defeated 529 votes to 68. Jenrick's amendment - which proposed people could still appeal their removal to Rwanda, but only after they had been deported - was also defeated, by 525 votes to 58.
Sunak to face Starmer at PMQs ahead of crunch Rwanda vote
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of what promises to be an eventful day in the House of Commons, starting with Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will face Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, a day after the resignation of two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide over the government’s flagship Rwanda bill.
The bill will dominate the rest of the afternoon, with a debate culminating in an MPs’ vote later this evening.
Watch the live stream of today’s events by pressing the Play button at the top of this page. And you can follow all our written updates here.
Live Reporting
Edited by James Harness and Dulcie Lee
All times stated are UK
Get involved
Starmer more interested in what 'lefty lawyers' have to say, Sunak says
Sunak says he's determined to "grip the problem".
He quotes what he calls "eminent" lawyers and judges as saying his Rwanda plan will be effective and robust - and jibes that Starmer is more interested in what "lefty lawyers" have to say.
Starmer says Sunak 'hasn't got a clue' on 'missing' people
Starmer now states that the PM "hasn't got a clue where they are, has he?"
He goes on to say "the place they aren't is in Rwanda".
Starmer says that Sunak didn't even believe in the policy, and asks if he wishes he had stuck to his guns.
Sunak says Starmer has 'no values, no conviction and no plan'
"It's the same thing again and again", responds Sunak amid cheers in the House.
He defends his record again, saying the government has helped arrest illegal immigrants and closed their bank accounts.
Sunak continues - after an interruption by the Speaker to calm the House - by saying his plan is working, adding that it is rich to hear Starmer talking about the stopping the boats when he has "no values, no conviction and no plan".
Starmer asks again about 'missing' people
Starmer says that this isn't a plan, it is "a farce". He says only this government could waste hundreds of millions of pounds on a removal policy that doesn't remove anyone.
He jokes that the government couldn't get flights off the ground because they couldn't find a plane, which wins a few laughs.
Starmer asks again what progress Sunak has made in locating the 4,250 people.
Sunak again sidesteps question
Sunak again sidesteps the question, saying it's vital to have a "working deterrent" to stop the boats.
He says it's clear Starmer does not care about solving the problem, has no other plan to do so - and would reverse his [Sunak's] scheme if he was elected.
It would be "back to square one", he repeats.
Starmer says Sunak running a 'farce of a government'
Starmer continues to press on Rwanda, asking how the government could lose 4,250 people.
He goes on to list issues the government has faced, from the funding of HS2 to the row over meeting the Greek PM, which he says shows how Sunak is running a "farce of a government".
Sunak defends the government's immigration record
Sunak responds by defending his record on immigration, pointing to the government's achievements in preventing people coming to the UK.
He says that the Conservatives have a plan to stop the boats, and it's working.
"With him," says the PM pointing at Starmer, "'we'd just go back to square one."
Starmer asks if Sunak has found 'missing asylum seekers'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer begins by saying he is saddened by the death of Bronson Battersby, a child in Skegness who died in "heart breaking circumstances".
He then says that the government has been forced to admit it lost contact with 85% of the 5,000 people earmarked for removal.
"Has he found them yet? he asks.
Video content
PMQs begins
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on his feet at the despatch box, ready to take questions from his colleagues in Westminster.
Stick with us and we'll bring you all the key exchanges with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, as well as other politicians from all sides of the House of Commons.
You can also watch the PMQs by pressing Play at the top of the page.
Who’s said what about Sunak’s Rwanda asylum plans
As we've been reporting, yesterday's rebellion has been the biggest the government has suffered for some years. Let's look at some of the reasons behind the MPs' opposition to the bill.
Some Conservatives are unhappy with the proposed law because they think it should go further, while others have criticised the legislation because they believe it breaks international law.
On Tuesday, Conservative deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith and ministerial aide Jane Stevenson resigned from their roles because they wanted to support changes which they said would toughen up the legislation.
But Sunak has claimed that the Rwanda plan is already the toughest immigration law ever proposed. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is leading Tory efforts to rewrite the legislation.
Jenrick told MPs that attempts by Tory rebels to address "flaws" in the Rwanda bill are the "last opportunity" to get the policy right.
Labour says the scheme is an expensive "gimmick" which will not work, and Keir Starmer has accused Sunak of being "taken hostage by his own party".
Will defiant MPs vote against the bill today?
Harry Farley
Political correspondent
Tuesday was the biggest rebellion Rishi Sunak has suffered.
In fact, it’s the biggest rebellion the government has suffered for some years.
Around 60 of his own MPs defied the prime minister to back changes to toughen up the proposed new law on the Rwanda policy.
So where does it leave him?
The key test comes today when the whole bill – as opposed to individual amendments – is voted on. This is called third reading. It’s the final vote in the Commons before the bill goes to the House of Lords when peers have the chance to suggest changes.
If the government loses at third reading, the whole bill will be defeated. That would be a major blow for the prime minister and almost certainly mean asylum seekers won’t be sent to Rwanda this side of an election. That is not what the rebel MPs from the right of the party want.
So the big question is, will enough of the 60 MPs who defied Rishi Sunak yesterday, do the same when the stakes are much higher today?
Ministers seem confident they can win today. But several of those Conservative MPs who voted today to toughen up the bill have said they will rebel again today if the government doesn’t suggest their own changes.
BBC Verify
Anthony Reuben
Did the government meet its inflation pledge?
Although the rate of inflation unexpectedly rose in December, the government has still comfortably met its pledge for inflation to halve in 2023.
The measure it was using was that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the last three months of 2023 should be half of what it was in the same period of 2022.
The figure for the last quarter (October – December) of 2022 was 10.7% and for the last quarter of 2023 it was 4.2%, so that’s been achieved.
The prime minister is having more trouble with some of his other four priorities - you can read more about it here.
Alcohol and tobacco trigger surprise rise in inflation
Another topic that might come up at PMQs shortly is the UK's inflation rate unexpectedly increasing to 4% this morning.
Economists had been forecasting a fall from last month’s 3.9% to 3.7%.
Tobacco and alcohol price rises were the biggest drivers of inflation in December, the Office for National Statistics said.
This was because Chancellor Jeremy Hunt raised duty on tobacco products in the Autumn Statement last November.
But Hunt insisted the government's economic plan to bear down on inflation was still working, saying inflation "doesn't fall in a straight line".
Minister plays down scale of Tory divisions
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
The rebellion against Rishi Sunak's Rwanda policy is a sign of "constructive and robust debate," the immigration minister has said.
Michael Tomlinson, the minister for countering illegal migration, played down the scale of Conservative divisions, telling BBC Breakfast this morning: "Almost every single person, in fact every single person, who stood up on our side on the Conservative side said they want this scheme to work."
Tomlinson said he was "very sorry" about the resignation of two deputy chairmen and a parliamentary private secretary on Tuesday, but that "each and every one of them want this policy to work".
He said there was only "an inch between us on the Conservative benches".
What might we see at PMQs?
Before the Rwanda vote takes place, Rishi Sunak will again face Prime Minister's Questions, a day after the biggest backbench rebellion of his leadership when 60 Conservative MPs backed changes to the Rwanda bill.
Downing Street is hoping the vast majority of rebels will not oppose the bill at its final Commons stage tonight, but Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer may draw attention to the fresh Tory divisions exposed.
Another issue that may feature prominently is today's surprise rise in December’s inflation rate from 3.9% to 4%, highlighting the continuing cost-of-living issues.
What happened yesterday?
As we've just mentioned, MPs will vote on the government's Rwanda bill this evening.
Yesterday, they voted on amendments to the bill which aims to revive the government's long-standing plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The bill passed its first vote in Parliament in December 2023, but a second round of voting took place yesterday, and the third and final vote will happen today before the bill moves to the House of Lords.
Conservative deputy chairmen Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith quit yesterday to join about 60 Tory MPs backing an amendment to toughen the legislation.
Amendments tabled by Robert Jenrick - who resigned as immigration minister last year over the Rwanda bill - and veteran Conservative Sir Bill Cash were among those voted on by MPs.
Cash's proposal, which aimed to prevent any international law being used to block someone being removed to Rwanda, was defeated 529 votes to 68. Jenrick's amendment - which proposed people could still appeal their removal to Rwanda, but only after they had been deported - was also defeated, by 525 votes to 58.
Sunak to face Starmer at PMQs ahead of crunch Rwanda vote
Marita Moloney
Live reporter
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of what promises to be an eventful day in the House of Commons, starting with Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will face Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, a day after the resignation of two Conservative deputy chairmen and a ministerial aide over the government’s flagship Rwanda bill.
The bill will dominate the rest of the afternoon, with a debate culminating in an MPs’ vote later this evening.
Watch the live stream of today’s events by pressing the Play button at the top of this page. And you can follow all our written updates here.