A relieved Rishi Sunak has taken to Twitter to issue a rallying cry after his Rwanda Bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 313 votes to 269. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Prime Minister said: “The British people should decide who gets to come to this country – not criminal gangs or foreign courts.
“That’s what this Bill delivers. We will now work to make it law so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats.”
The division list showed no Conservative MPs voted against giving the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill a second reading. There were 38 Conservative MPs listed as having no vote recorded, although this does not automatically equate to an abstention.
The division list released by the Commons authorities listed 307 Tory MPs as voting for the Bill along with five independent MPs, including Peter Bone (Wellingborough). The number is one short of the 313 announced in the chamber, but updates to the list can occur.
There have been occasions where an MP’s vote has not registered on the pass reader system and they are added to the relevant list later – moving from the no vote recorded column.
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Home Secretary James Cleverly said “Parliament has spoken” after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak won a crunch vote in the Commons over his emergency Rwanda legislation.
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cleverly said: “Parliament has spoken.
“We must be able to choose who comes to our country – not criminal gangs.
“That’s what this Bill will deliver.”
