Two deputy chairs of the Conservative Party have resigned from their roles after they both supported rebel amendments to Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill.
Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith both said they would support proposed changes designed to toughen up Mr Sunak’s bill, which seeks to declare Rwanda a safe country to deport asylum seekers to.
Jane Stevenson, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Department for Business and Trade, also said she would support rebel amendments to the Rwanda Bill.
On Monday night, Mr Anderson, who takes a hardline stance on immigration issues, said he would vote in favour of a series of amendments tabled by backbench MPs Robert Jenrick and Sir Bill Cash.
Brendan Clarke-Smith, who is also deputy chair of the Conservative Party, also confirmed he would vote for the rebel amendments, writing on X: “When I was elected in 2019 I promised my constituents we would take back control.
“I want this legislation to be as strong as possible and therefore I will be supporting the Jenrick/Cash amendments. These are arguments I have consistently made and will continue to make.”
Asked by Sky News if he knew whether he would be sacked, he replied: “We’ll see. It’s not for me to decide.”