Lee Anderson rebuffs claims he’s rebelling against Sunak
Lee Anderson insisted he is not rebelling by backing amendments to the Rwanda Bill.
The Tory deputy chairman is joining around 60 right-wing MPs in signing amendments designed to toughen up the legislation.
The Ashfield MP said he is supporting changes to the Safety of Rwanda Bill to ensure that it works.
Mr Anderson told GB News: “This is not a rebellion, this is about making sure that the Bill is beefed up a little bit.
“Brendan and I both agree with pretty much 90 per cent of this Rwanda Bill.
"We just feel that there's a few areas in the Bill that could be strengthened to make sure that it's watertight.
“And let's not forget we're less than a year away from a general election and the last thing I want is Labour coming in and repealing the Rwanda scheme and opening the borders to 100,000 illegal migrants which they will do if they sign up to any EU deal.
“So this is not all about us rebelling, it is about saying you know what most of the Bill is satisfactory, you just need to beef it up a little bit, close all those loopholes and make sure that people can't come over here and break into our country and use it and use spurious claims. That's all that's what it's about.”
Fellow Tory deputy chairman Brendan Clarke-Smith is also backing the amendments.
The Bassetlaw MP said: "The fact of the matter is we all want to make this legislation work.
"Sometimes you have to say what's in your heart, sometimes you have to say what you think is going to make that legislation better.
Trending
"We want the Government to succeed with this, it's not about me or Lee, what is is about is those people at home who are sick and tired of seeing people cheat our system, genuine asylum seekers not actually being able to be dealt with because you've got economic migrants who are cheating that system.
"The Labour Party will have open borders completely, so we're not bothered about our roles we just want to make this work and that's what it's all about."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is faced with a dilemma over whether to sack Mr Anderson and Mr Clarke-Smith from their party posts.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
James Cleverly makes desperate last-minute plea as Tory rebels threaten to bin Rwanda plan
30 Comments
Andrea Jenkyns in rallying cry to Tories to submit no-confidence letters in Rishi Sunak
187 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough
40 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough
87 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats - poll
841 Comments
The Rwanda Bill 'doesn't end the merry-go-round of legal challenges', protests Mr Jenrick
510 Comments
Now Boris Johnson throws weight behind Rwanda rebels in nightmare for Rishi Sunak
82 Comments
Lee Anderson fumes at Ed Davey: ‘Man up and give Alan Bates your knighthood'
80 Comments
Labour MP slapped down over video moaning about Bibby Stockholm barge conditions
218 Comments
Suella Braverman warns half of Tory MPs will lose their seats unless PM fixes Rwanda Bill
329 Comments
Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks
94 Comments
John Bercow boasts about political 'backstabbing' and 'deception' on hit TV show
124 Comments
POLL: Do you think Rishi Sunak's new Rwanda Bill will stop the boats? Vote here
308 Comments
POLL: Should Rishi Sunak sack Lee Anderson over Rwanda rebellion? Vote here
49 Comments
Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion
566 Comments
Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda
354 Comments
Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote
81 Comments
Rishi Sunak 'playing chicken' with Tory rebels as MPs back last minute Rwanda Bill changes
609 Comments
Lee Anderson's fury as Labour targets primary school children for 'indoctrination' lessons
185 Comments
James Cleverly makes desperate last-minute plea as Tory rebels threaten to bin Rwanda plan
30 Comments
Andrea Jenkyns in rallying cry to Tories to submit no-confidence letters in Rishi Sunak
187 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough
40 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough
87 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats - poll
841 Comments
The Rwanda Bill 'doesn't end the merry-go-round of legal challenges', protests Mr Jenrick
510 Comments
Now Boris Johnson throws weight behind Rwanda rebels in nightmare for Rishi Sunak
82 Comments
Lee Anderson fumes at Ed Davey: ‘Man up and give Alan Bates your knighthood'
80 Comments
Labour MP slapped down over video moaning about Bibby Stockholm barge conditions
218 Comments
Suella Braverman warns half of Tory MPs will lose their seats unless PM fixes Rwanda Bill
329 Comments
Post Office scandal proves only Nigel Farage can save 'broken Britain', says Arron Banks
94 Comments
John Bercow boasts about political 'backstabbing' and 'deception' on hit TV show
124 Comments
POLL: Do you think Rishi Sunak's new Rwanda Bill will stop the boats? Vote here
308 Comments
POLL: Should Rishi Sunak sack Lee Anderson over Rwanda rebellion? Vote here
49 Comments
Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as Prime Minister with Rwanda Bill rebellion
566 Comments
Rishi Sunak in last-minute crisis talks to stop Lee Anderson from quitting over Rwanda
354 Comments
Tory rebels will only decide whether to torpedo Rwanda Bill just hours before final vote
81 Comments
Rishi Sunak 'playing chicken' with Tory rebels as MPs back last minute Rwanda Bill changes
609 Comments
Lee Anderson's fury as Labour targets primary school children for 'indoctrination' lessons
185 Comments
James Cleverly makes desperate last-minute plea as Tory rebels threaten to bin Rwanda plan
30 Comments
Andrea Jenkyns in rallying cry to Tories to submit no-confidence letters in Rishi Sunak
187 Comments
Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough
40 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg threatens to vote against Rwanda policy if it's not 'effective' enough
87 Comments
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg warns against voting down Rwanda deportation plans
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt and Lee Anderson among Tory big beasts facing losing seats - poll
841 Comments
The Rwanda Bill 'doesn't end the merry-go-round of legal challenges', protests Mr Jenrick
510 Comments
While the deputy chairmanship is not a Government role, holders would be expected to back its positions.
More than 60 right-wing MPs have backed amendments seeking to toughen up the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which returns to the Commons today for six hours of debate and voting.
But MPs on the left of the party will oppose any moves to strengthen the legislation aimed at getting the plan to deport Channel migrants to the African nation.
Related articles Kemi Badenoch warned Rishi Sunak that Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough Rishi Sunak has 48 hours to save his job as PM with Rwanda Bill rebellion Nigel Farage's stark warning Tories have no idea what is 'coming down track'
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial