Penny Mordaunt has confirmed that MPs will vote on any amendments to the Government's Rwanda Bill on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Rishi Sunak is gearing up for a battle with his MPs over the legislation, as backbenchers on both the left and the right of the party are preparing to table amendments to the bill.

The announcement was made ahead of Mordaunt's usual business statement on Thursday, with the minister saying she wanted to give MPs more time to table amendments.

She explained: "If I had waited to announce this for the first time on Thursday there would have been very limited time for people to table amendments ahead of the normal tabling deadline.

"We are making this announcement to facilitate the right honourable members in tabling amendments if they wish to do so.

"I do not wish to bring forward legislation which will not be successful. This is a matter of great importance to the general public.

"We do wish it to be successful. And I hope the house will understand why we have given them a heads-up ahead of next week."

The legislation passed its second reading comfortably last year by 313 votes to 269.

But a total of 37 Tory MPs abstained on the second reading, including ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

Many of these MPs are expected to table amendments to the legislation at the Committee stage, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Sunak could be facing a major rebellion at the next vote on the bill, if the amendments are not acceptable to both sides of the party.

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