Tory rebels ‘tactically retreated’ but showdown still to come with Rishi Sunak over ‘stop the boats’ plan

TORY rebels seeking to harden Rishi Sunak’s stance against the European Court of Human Rights admit they “tactically retreated” last night rather than force a showdown with the PM.

But they warn today a confrontation has been “deferred not defeated” as they vow to hold Mr Sunak’s to his pledge to “stop the boats” by Christmas.

More than 30 Tory MPs want to toughen up the Government’s new Illegal Migration Bill, but did not force a vote on a string of hard-line amendments to it on Monday evening.

Instead they accepted an offer of negotiations with Downing Street and the Home Office that will begin as soon as tonight.

Ringleaders including Devizes MP Danny Kruger and Stoke’s Jonathan Gullis will meet this evening with other right-wing MPs in the so-called Commons Sense Group to plot tactics.

The pressure group is headed up by party grandee Sir John Hayes, who is a key ally of Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

She was forced to deny allegations yesterday that she is working in cahoots with the rebels to force No10 to take a tougher stance toward ignoring rulings on European Court in Strasbourg on deporting illegal immigrants.

Other Tory MPs will meet Downing Street officials on Tuesday afternoon and then Ms Braverman next week.

They are hopeful of changes which would allow Britain to effectively ignore Section 39 orders to injunct flights – and to dis-apply more parts of the ECHR instead of leaving it totally.

And a policy vowing to leave the controversial human rights convention should be put in the next Conservative manifesto if the current plans don’t work, others have argued.

After scoping talks on Monday, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick gave the rebels the nod last night that there was room for further negotiations.

He told the Commons: “I have listened to my hon friends and I recognise the positive purpose of the amendments they have tabled.

The government takes their arguments seriously and I can undertake that the Home Secretary and I will engage constructively with them before Report Stage with a view to ensuring that the Bill does all that is necessary to meet our shared aim to stop the boats.”

While rebels believe their numbers could swell to at least 50 were ministers to renege on that promise, others are trying to calm tensions.

Privately Tory MPs have concerns about rocking the boat ahead of May’s local elections are the right of the party are said to “still be licking their wounds” after a hammering last week in their attempts to derail Mr Sunak’s Windsor Framework Brexit fix.

A source in the rebel camp said: “The idea that the ECHR issue is going away is for the birds. The PM promised to stop the boats by Christmas we will do whatever it takes to make sure he achieves just that.”