Minister rejects claim of deep split in Tory party over Rwanda policy

Michael Tomlinson says ‘there’s a difference of about an inch’ between Tory MPs, despite resignation of two deputy chairs

The illegal migration minister has rejected suggestions of a deepened split within the Conservative party over the prime minister’s Rwanda bill, saying “there’s a difference of about an inch” between MPs.

On Tuesday night, Rishi Sunak faced the biggest rebellion of his leadership after two deputy chairs – Lee Anderson and Brendan Clake-Smith – resigned along with Jane Stevenson, who was Kemi Badenoch’s parliamentary private secretary, by backing rightwing challenges for the prime minister to toughen up his bill.