Rishi Sunak has seen off opposition to his Safety of Rwanda Bill in its second reading tonight by 313 votes to 269.
The Prime Minister looked set to face a crunch vote in the Commons after the so-called “five families” on the Tory right ruled out voting in favour of his revised Rwanda plan.
However, Sunak managed to see off rebels with a majority of 44.
A total of 38 Tory MPs abstained on the second reading, including ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.
Despite sailing through the Commons at this early stage, the Prime Minister can only briefly breathe a sigh of relief as rebels plot to create further challenges when the Bill progresses through the Houses of Parliament.
Liberal-leaning MPs and MPs on the Tory right have suggested they could look to push amendments to the legislation.
The One Nation Caucus, who voted for the second reading, remain concerned about any future amendments which could mean the Government breaches the rule of law and its international obligations.
The group of around 100 MPs will be advised to oppose amendments.
However, the “five families” on the Tory right look set to table amendments.
European Research Group chairman Mark Francois suggested the so-called Cash Amendment could look to bolster the Bill.
Speaking before the division in the House of Commons, the Rayleigh & Wickford MP also said: “The Prime Minister has been telling colleagues today he is prepared to entertain tightening the bill, with that aim, at the committee stage, we will aim to table an amendment which would we hope, if accepted, would materially improve the bill and remove some of its weaknesses.
“We very much hope those amendments will be accepted – if they are not and the bill remains unamended, in that way again, collectively, we reserve the right to vote against it at third reading, that is collectively what we have decided.”
However, Downing Street welcomed the decision taken by MPs to support the Safety of Rwanda Bill in its second reading.
A No10 spokesperson said: “Tonight the House has shown its support for the Prime Minister’s legislation to deem Rwanda safe and stop the boats.
“This Bill is the toughest legislation ever introduced to Parliament.
“It deems Rwanda safe notwithstanding any other interpretation of international law and it makes clear that this parliament, not any foreign court is sovereign.
“We will now work to ensure that this Bill gets on to the Statute book so that we can get flights off to Rwanda and stop the boats.”
The Safety of Rwanda Bill looks to address concerns expressed in last month’s Supreme Court ruling by declaring Rwanda is a safe country to send asylum seekers to.
It also stops flights being grounded for legal reasons by allowing ministers to disapply sections of the Human Rights Act.
The Tory right want the legislation to go further to prevent further obstacles.
However, Home Secretary James Cleverly has suggested the legislation already “pushed at the edge of the envelope” on international law.
Rwanda also told Sunak it will withdraw from the treaty if the UK were to breach its “international obligations”.