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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s emergency bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda narrowly escaped defeat in Parliament, revealing deep divisions within his party. Despite significant internal opposition, the bill passed its first vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday with a 313 to 269 margin.

The bill’s narrow passage exposed rifts within the Conservative ranks, with moderate members expressing reluctance to support legislation that some argue breaches human rights obligations. In contrast, other members criticized it for not being comprehensive enough.

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Mark Francois, representing some conservative lawmakers, announced their decision to abstain, stating, “We have decided collectively that we cannot support the bill tonight because of its many omissions.” This abstention, along with the party’s general loss of discipline after 13 years in power, signals potential further internal conflicts as the bill progresses through Parliament.

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In anticipation of the vote, Sunak faced pressure to rally support, resulting in an unusual move by Britain’s climate change minister, Graham Stuart, who left critical negotiations at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai to return for the parliamentary vote.

To appease potential rebels, Sunak held a breakfast meeting at Downing Street, assuring them of the opportunity to amend the legislation later.

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