Suella Braverman hits out at Sunak’s Rwanda plans in Commons speech as Tory revolt grows

Suella Braverman issued a stinging attack on Rishi Sunak – warning the PM that the Conservatives face “electoral oblivion” if he fails to bypass human rights law in his Rwanda ‘plan B’ legislation.

As a right-wing Tory revolt builds over his thwarted efforts to get deportation flights started, the sacked home secretary said the PM must now opt out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

“The Conservative party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another bill that is destined to fail,” she told the Commons. “Do we fight for sovereignty or do we let our party die?”

Ms Braverman’s fiery speech came just hours before Mr Sunak sets out his emergency legislation designed to resurrect the Rwanda policy, after it was branded unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Mr Sunak is said to have ruled out a radical move to opt out of ECHR with the Rwanda bill, after being warned that up to 10 moderate ministers quitting government if he uses the legislation to get around the convention.

The PM is now facing revolt by Ms Braverman and other hardliners who are pushing him go for “full fat” legislation by “disapplying” the ECHR in a bid to stop judges from blocking deportations.

Mr Sunak has also been warned by a powerful group of Tory moderates that they cannot support his legislation if he does flout the convention – arguing that it would be “red line” that cannot be crossed.

The Tory leader will try to appease the Tory right by disapplying parts of the UK Human Rights Act in the legislation, according to The Times – a move described as a “middle way” option.

Ex-home secretary Suella Braverman has added to pressure on Rishi Sunak (PA Wire)

In her formal resignation speech on Wednesday, Ms Braverman told told MPs it came down to a question of “who governs Britain?” – the government or the courts.

Ms Braverman suggested her own previous ‘stop the boats’ legislation should have been scrapped in favour of a “more robust alternative that excluded international and human rights laws”.

The Tory hardliner also attacked “expansive human rights laws flowing from the European Convention on Human Rights, replicated in Labour’s Human Rights Act” that were stopping the Rwanda flights.

Ms Braverman also said it was “no secret” that she supports quitting the ECHR altogether – arguing that a new British human rights law would “finish the job of Brexit by extricating us from a foreign court”.

Tory MPs on right – including members of the New Conservatives, Commons Sense Group and European Research Group – will meet again on Wednesday evening. The rebels are convening a “star chamber” of legal experts to decide if the new Rwanda bill is tough enough to support.

But The Independent understands they are unhappy about the “semi-skimmed” option of disapplying parts of the Human Rights Act – pushing for the “full fat” removal of the ECHR in asylum cases. Mark Francois said the bill must “fully respect the sovereignty of parliament”.

Rishi Sunak is under huge pressure from different wings of the party (PA Wire)

Right-wingers are angry that has been no attempt by No 10 or ministers to reach out to them. One senior MP told The Independent that there would be “no purpose” in the bill if it fails to get around human rights law to block legal challenges.

Some Tory MPs on the right have even submitted letters of no confidence in Mr Sunak, according to ITV presenter Robert Peston. Mr Sunak is expected to defend his plans at a meeting of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers this evening.

In a personal swipe at the PM, Ms Braverman also attacked his claims that the ‘stop the boats’ policy is working, saying: “’Crossings are down’ is not the same as stopping the boats.”

She said Mr Sunak had to stop people “pouring” into Britain. This involved thousands of “mostly young men, many with values … at odds with our own”, placing “unsustainable pressure” on public services and “jeopardising national security”.

She also said emergency “nightingale-style detention facilities” were need to deliver the necessary capacity for speedy deportations, and told MPs they must be prepared to sit over Christmas to rush through the Rwanda legislation if necessary.

Ms Braverman’s unusual personal statement to the Commons followed her bitter exit last month. She branded Ms Sunak a failure, and accused him of betraying a secret deal on small boats in an incendiary letter, after she was ousted in a reshuffle last month.

A similar speech by Geoffrey Howe in 1990 following his resignation in Commons in 1990. Lord Howe’s resignation is often credited with ending Margaret Thatcher’s political career.

Mr Sunak was not expected to watch the speech, as it clashed with a phone call between leaders of the G7 nations on a number of issues including Ukraine and the war in Gaza.