By Julia Penhaligon

It looks as if none of Cornwall’s MPs will defy the government over its plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

With all opinion polls reporting that most people are far more concerned about the cost of living crisis, rather than immigration, it is the internal Conservative Party civil war which again dominates the domestic political agenda.

Nearly 60 Right-wing Tories have signed an amendment to the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which seeks to make it British law that Rwanda is safe simply because the government says so.

Centre-Left Tories say the Bill is nonsense but they are nevertheless expected to vote with the government today.  None of the MPs to declare their position publicly, ahead of the vote, is from Cornwall.  Their position on Rwanda is interesting because the Right-wing Reform Party has said it will field candidates against any MP it considers "soft" on immigration.

Ministers say the new law is necessary to prevent legal challenges later.  A potential sticking point for the rebels is that Rwanda itself has said it will not defy international human rights’ law.

The rebels want Rwanda to elevate contract law above treaties although it is not clear how any vote in the British House of Commons could achieve this.

Pundits think the real reason for today’s (Tuesday) rebellion is to declare future Tory leadership ambitions in the event that Rishi Sunak loses a general election later this year.

Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman are among the leading names to have signed the main rebel amendment.  There is keen interest in how Mr Sunak will deal with Tory Party

vice-chairman Lee Anderson, who has said he will defy party whips in order to vote for the “tougher” anti-immigrant measures.

juliapenhaligon@cornwallreports.co.uk