Tories warn PM of 'heavy price' election unless Channel boats plan tougher trends now
Rishi Sunak gathered his Cabinet today after Tories put him on notice that he will 'pay a heavy price' at the next election unless the Channel migrants Bill is toughened up.
The PM and his top team are meeting in No10 after ministers won some breathing space by promising to consider proposals for tightening the controversial legislation.
However, Mr Sunak is still facing a pincer between backbenchers who want to bolster the rules and block European judges from meddling - and those who are demanding more safe routes and exemptions for children.
The government proposals would effectively ban Channel arrivals from claiming asylum in the UK. The Illegal Migration Bill is due back in the House later today, but the reckoning with MPs is now likely to come in May at the report and third reading stages.
Tory former minister Sir John Hayes - a close ally of Home Secretary Suella Braverman - warned during the latest Commons debate last night that Conservatives will not be given a 'third chance' to address the issue.
ory former minister Sir John Hayes warned during the latest Commons debate last night that Conservatives will not be given a 'third chance' to address the Channel boats issue
Home Secretary Suella Braverman was among the ministers gathering for Cabinet today
A file picture of a migrant boat being helped to safety in the Channel
Pointing to the Nationality and Borders Act, which passed last year, Sir John said the public was told that legislation would 'do the job' but he conceded it 'couldn't achieve what we wanted'.
He warned his party would pay a 'heavy price' if the latest Bill fails to deliver on Mr Sunak's vow to 'stop the boats'.
He said: 'If (the Bill) fails, and the Government is found wanting, those on this side of the House will pay a heavy price. So, the minister needs to know that we've been down this road before with the (Nationality and Borders Bill).
'Of course, we were told that the borders bill would do the job. And I don't think ministers were deceiving us. They genuinely believed that would be the case and yet … we found that we couldn't achieve what we wanted with the borders bill.
'We will not be given a third chance. This is our second chance to deal once and for all with the matter of the boats arriving in Dover, the – and I do use the word, tide, wave, I think Home Secretary described it as a swarm – of people
