it was still dark when conservative mps arrived at downing street earlier this morning. over breakfast, the prime minister was trying to persuade them to back his latest attempt to send asylum seekers to rwanda. are you going to vote against the bill? are you satisfied? they were tight—lipped on the way out about whether they had been convinced. some have been clear about their doubts. we are all of one mind on this. we all want the government to succeed in stopping the boats. we all want this legislation to be the right tool to deliver that. and i am genuinely grateful to the government for what they have done to make sure that this is the toughest ever piece of legislation. it is still partial and incomplete. successive home secretaries have been to rwanda, but so far no asylum seekers. some conservative mps say the government's latest attempt still falls short, and the plan could remain tangled in legal challenges in the courts. others have warned the government against going too far and ignoring international law. ministers are trying to navigate the tricky path, and convince tory mps it will work. what i haven't heard enough of, and what i hope to take to the debate this evening, is that moral case. we must stop the boats. it is a fundamental... under this act, this bill, is part of that piece. i do the prime minister is determined, and i am determined, to support him in every way. this will come to a head here later today when there is a vote on the government's plan. the question is whether the prime minister's own mps back him or deliver a blow to his authority. the attempts to persuade conservative mps will carry on this afternoon, with meetings and phone calls as the potential rebels work out which cost they will take. but even if rishi sunak wins enough support today, this is a problem first opponent rather than resolved. because the tensions and the divisions will only return in the new year. the labour leader giving a speech in milton keynes this morning was scathing. we are all stuck in their psychodrama. all being dragged down to their level. and that is what they just don't understand. while they are swanning around, self importantly, with their factions and their star chambers, fighting like rats in a sack, there is a country out here that isn't being governed. as mps debated the government's latest plan to send people to rwanda, what happens next remains up in the air. unlike the planes. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. for more on that story, we can cross live to a central lobby in the houses of parliament and join our political correspondence, harrah hannah miller. the political correspondence, harrah hannah miller.— political correspondence, harrah hannah miller. the debate is still auoin on hannah miller. the debate is still going on in _ hannah miller. the debate is still going on in the — hannah miller. the debate is still going on in the house _ hannah miller. the debate is still going on in the house of- hannah miller. the debate is still. going on in the house of commons. hannah miller. the debate is still- going on in the house of commons. a number of backbench mps have now been talking up we have heard from danny kruger, a leading member of the so—called new, conservative group who met with the prime minister over breakfast this morning. he indicated he cannot support the bill but he did not say whether he would abstain whether he will vote against it and that is very much the question for a number of mps who are thought or known to be unhappy about this. it was unclear in the comments that robert renwick, the former immigration minister made. he resigned over this bill but let us listen to what he had to say in the house of commons this afternoon. this is not a bad bill but it is not the best— this is not a bad bill but it is not the best bill. i want this bill to work — the best bill. i want this bill to work the _ the best bill. i want this bill to work. the test of this policy is not, _ work. the test of this policy is not. is — work. the test of this policy is not. is it— work. the test of this policy is not, is it the strongest bill we have — not, is it the strongest bill we have done, it is not, is it a good compromise? it is, will it work? that_ compromise? it is, will it work? that is— compromise? it is, will it work? that is all— compromise? it is, will it work? that is all the public care about. they— that is all the public care about. they don't— that is all the public care about. they don't care about rwanda is a schema, — they don't care about rwanda is a schema, they care about stopping the boats _ schema, they care about stopping the boats and _ schema, they care about stopping the boats. and we are sent here to do that for— boats. and we are sent here to do that for them. i will never elevate contested — that for them. i will never elevate contested notions of international law over — contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents. over a vital national interests — constituents. over a vital national interests like national security, like border security. this bill could — like border security. this bill could he _ like border security. this bill could be so much better. let us make it hetten _ could be so much better. let us make it hetten let— could be so much better. let us make it better. let us make it worse. that _ it better. let us make it worse. that question of the role of the court is willing key to this debate. we have also heard from the former attorney general. that is listen to what he had to say. this attorney general. that is listen to what he had to say.— what he had to say. this bill carefully — what he had to say. this bill carefully preserves - what he had to say. this bill carefully preserves the - what he had to say. this billi carefully preserves the right what he had to say. this bill. carefully preserves the right of individuals to come to court in extreme — individuals to come to court in extreme cases of individualjustice. i extreme cases of individualjustice. iwouid _ extreme cases of individualjustice. i would submit to those who think this bill— i would submit to those who think this bill goes far enough, and i listened, — this bill goes far enough, and i listened, impressed by my right honourable friend, but we cannot sacrifice — honourable friend, but we cannot sacrifice the principal access to a court _ sacrifice the principal access to a court if — sacrifice the principal access to a court if we _ sacrifice the principal access to a court. if we eliminate it entirely, not only— court. if we eliminate it entirely, not only with this bill collapse, because — not only with this bill collapse, because it will be interminably impeded in the house of lords, it will probably lead to the rwandan government withdrawing. the government _ government withdrawing. tie: government really government withdrawing. tue: government really is government withdrawing. tt9 government really is trying to tow a line between two completely opposing sets of groups among the conservative mps themselves. with relatively little room for manoeuvre, they suggest, in terms of what they are able to do in the negotiations also with the rwandan government. i am joined negotiations also with the rwandan government. iam joined now negotiations also with the rwandan government. i am joined now by one of the mps who has suggested that you are not a huge fan of this bill but that you public will support it. is that right? i think a lot of conservative mps have their own particular— conservative mps have their own particular concerns about the bill. my concern — particular concerns about the bill. my concern is that the geopolitical one in_ my concern is that the geopolitical one in the — my concern is that the geopolitical one in the sense that i know that the democratic republic of and i have _ the democratic republic of and i have very— the democratic republic of and i have very many contacts there. i made _ have very many contacts there. i made the — have very many contacts there. i made the point of the home secretary that the _ made the point of the home secretary that the democratic republic of congo — that the democratic republic of congo is — that the democratic republic of congo is accusing rwanda of supporting a terrorist organisation, which _ supporting a terrorist organisation, which is _ supporting a terrorist organisation, which is infiltrating congo, killing congolese soldiers and raping congolese soldiers and raping congolese women. is that the sort of country— congolese women. is that the sort of country with — congolese women. is that the sort of country with those sorts of allegations that we want to partner up allegations that we want to partner up with? _ allegations that we want to partner up with? i— allegations that we want to partner up with? i challenged the home secretary— up with? i challenged the home secretary on this issue. he said that the — secretary on this issue. he said that the government does not share the view— that the government does not share the view of— that the government does not share the view of the congolese government that rwanda is a safe and trusted partner~ — that rwanda is a safe and trusted partner. of course i have my reservations but at the end of the day, _ reservations but at the end of the day, this— reservations but at the end of the day, this is— reservations but at the end of the day, this is the only game in town at the _ day, this is the only game in town at the moment. my priority is, although— at the moment. my priority is, although i_ at the moment. my priority is, although i would not have selected rwanda _ although i would not have selected rwanda as a destination, and we will have to _ rwanda as a destination, and we will have to agency would happen is with this agreement, my main priority is, ithink— this agreement, my main priority is, i think most— this agreement, my main priority is, i think most of my constituents main priorities— i think most of my constituents main priorities is— i think most of my constituents main priorities is destroying the business case of the criminal gangs that are _ business case of the criminal gangs that are operating in the english channet — that are operating in the english channel. this is a new phenomenon for us _ channel. this is a new phenomenon for us in _ channel. this is a new phenomenon for us in having to grapple with the human— for us in having to grapple with the human misery and suffering that is taking _ human misery and suffering that is taking place in the this channel and the sooner— taking place in the this channel and the sooner we start and incrementally taking on these grounds, the better, that is why i want _ grounds, the better, that is why i want to— grounds, the better, that is why i want to support the prime minister. he is— want to support the prime minister. he is treading a very fine line, as you can _ he is treading a very fine line, as you can see, _ he is treading a very fine line, as you can see, between those who want to putt— you can see, between those who want to pull out _ you can see, between those who want to pull out the european court of human _ to pull out the european court of human rights, to guarantee that we have the _ human rights, to guarantee that we have the supremacy over international courts, of a human right, _ international courts, of a human right, and — international courts, of a human right, and those on the one nation side of— right, and those on the one nation side of the — right, and those on the one nation side of the party who already feel that we _ side of the party who already feel that we are moving to for. so it is one of— that we are moving to for. so it is one of those _ that we are moving to for. so it is one of those existential threat that leaders _ one of those existential threat that leaders of— one of those existential threat that leaders of the conservative party base _ leaders of the conservative party base are — leaders of the conservative party base are periodically but this goes to a general election and with the issue _ to a general election and with the issue being so important, i think, and i_ issue being so important, i think, and i hope — issue being so important, i think, and i hope and expect my colleagues to support _ and i hope and expect my colleagues to support the prime minister this evening, — to support the prime minister this evening, as i will be doing. how would you _ evening, as i will be doing. how would you describe _ evening, as i will be doing. timer would you describe the mood in the party at the moment with such a tightrope being walked by britain and all the controversy that is going on? it is identity rishi sunak�*s authority, isn't it, even if this passes tonight, they will potentially be troubled on the road and the extent to which this has become a question mark over whether he can get it through, doesn't it say something about the prime minister's authority?— say something about the prime minister's authority? actually, i am very impressed _ minister's authority? actually, i am very impressed with _ minister's authority? actually, i am very impressed with the _ minister's authority? actually, i am very impressed with the prime - very impressed with the prime minister— very impressed with the prime minister in the sense that his quiet methodical diplomacy with countries like albania where he signed an agreement with the albanians earlier this year— agreement with the albanians earlier this year and with italy, has seen a reduction _ this year and with italy, has seen a reduction of — this year and with italy, has seen a reduction of the numbers coming across— reduction of the numbers coming across the — reduction of the numbers coming across the channel already by a third _ across the channel already by a third all— across the channel already by a third. all european countries are facing _ third. all european countries are facing the — third. all european countries are facing the same issue as we are facing. — facing the same issue as we are facing, which is this huge illegal movement of people to our shores but we have _ movement of people to our shores but we have to _ movement of people to our shores but we have to take into consideration that the _ we have to take into consideration that the prime minister quietly and methodically has already reduced members by a third. if he can get this rwanda deal through the house of commons, this second reading, and he can— of commons, this second reading, and he can get— of commons, this second reading, and he can get it _ of commons, this second reading, and he can get it through the third reading — he can get it through the third reading injanuary, then we will be sending _ reading injanuary, then we will be sending a — reading injanuary, then we will be sending a very strong message to the criminal— sending a very strong message to the criminal gangs that we are taking the lead — criminal gangs that we are taking the lead in our continent in trying to take _ the lead in our continent in trying to take them on. i have to say that in stark— to take them on. i have to say that in stark contrast to the labour party— in stark contrast to the labour party whose answer is ever closer union— party whose answer is ever closer union with — party whose answer is ever closer union with the european union, which will ultimately lead to us taking an allocation — will ultimately lead to us taking an allocation of illegal migrants from the evils — allocation of illegal migrants from the evils i — allocation of illegal migrants from the evils i think they would dispute that and _ the evils i think they would dispute that and this is a story about the conservative party's policy as things — conservative party's policy as things stand today.— conservative party's policy as things stand today. briefly, do you exect things stand today. briefly, do you exoect that — things stand today. briefly, do you expect that this _ things stand today. briefly, do you expect that this will _ things stand today. briefly, do you expect that this will go _ things stand today. briefly, do you expect that this will go through - things stand today. briefly, do you | expect that this will go through now or do you think it is still on a knife edge? t or do you think it is still on a knife edge?— or do you think it is still on a knife edue? :, ,, knife edge? i have spent the entire da talkin: knife edge? i have spent the entire day talking to _ knife edge? i have spent the entire day talking to colleagues _ knife edge? i have spent the entire day talking to colleagues in - knife edge? i have spent the entire day talking to colleagues in the - day talking to colleagues in the tearoom — day talking to colleagues in the tearoom and actually, the debates have been— tearoom and actually, the debates have been unlike the media have portrayed — have been unlike the media have portrayed them. the debates have been _ portrayed them. the debates have been very— portrayed them. the debates have been very good—humoured, constructive and professional. on the one _ constructive and professional. on the one side, sometimes we are challenged for being robotic and all boating _ challenged for being robotic and all boating on the same way and traipsing _ boating on the same way and traipsing through the lobbies under instructions. on the other hand, we are accused — instructions. on the other hand, we are accused of disunity when there is a genuine robust exchange of views — is a genuine robust exchange of views i— is a genuine robust exchange of views. i think this issue is so monumental and will have such huge profound _ monumental and will have such huge profound consequences for the united kingdom, _ profound consequences for the united kingdom, i_ profound consequences for the united kingdom, i think actually, the profound consequences for the united kingdom, ithink actually, the house of commons and the conservative party— of commons and the conservative party is— of commons and the conservative party is doing what it says on the tin, doing — party is doing what it says on the tin, doing what it'sjob is, which is forensically analysing every single — is forensically analysing every single aspect of the bill, debate and challenge one another as robustly— and challenge one another as robustly as we can to make sure the solution _ robustly as we can to make sure the solution is _ robustly as we can to make sure the solution is going to work but ultimately, i have come to the conclusion— ultimately, i have come to the conclusion that we need to support the prime — conclusion that we need to support the prime minister and that is the message — the prime minister and that is the message that i have been taking out to my— message that i have been taking out to my fellow tory mps throughout the course _ to my fellow tory mps throughout the course of _ to my fellow tory mps throughout the course of the day.— course of the day. thank you very much for speaking _ course of the day. thank you very much for speaking to _ course of the day. thank you very much for speaking to us. - course of the day. thank you very much for speaking to us. we - course of the day. thank you very much for speaking to us. we will| course of the day. thank you very i much for speaking to us. we will get the result of the vote of course around 7:15pm of this evening. until then, who knows exactly what will happen? i would say that the mood here has shifted perhaps a little bit in the last hour or so. i certainly hope that perhaps it will go thr