Politics latest news: Tory rebels ‘overreached’ by criticising Rwanda Bill and then failing to vote against it, claims Osborne

George Osborne claimed Tory Rwanda Bill rebels “overreached” by criticising the legislation and then failing to vote against it. 

The former chancellor said Rishi Sunak had “held the line” and effectively “called their bluff” by refusing to give significant ground ahead of the crunch vote on Tuesday. 

He told his Political Currency podcast: “I thought the Conservative rebels overreached… they were threatening to withhold their support and they were demanding concessions from the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister didn’t give them any. 

“He gave them a tiny, tiny, very thin ladder to climb down… and he held the line and as a result, they blinked. And that’s not good. That’s not good if you’re trying to demonstrate the power of the Conservative right. It’s a really good example of that classic political mistake of issuing a threat that you’re not prepared to carry out.”

Dozens of Tory rebels abstained at the vote on Tuesday but they said they reserved the right to vote against the Bill in the new year if the Government fails to strengthen it. 

The Government believes the Bill will pave the way for migrant deportation flights to finally take off but Tory rebels fear if the Bill is not toughened up the policy will once again become bogged down in the courts. 

You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here.