Tory deputy chairs resign after rebelling over Rwanda bill

Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith backed rightwing challenge to policy in defiance of Rishi Sunak

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Lee Anderson and Brendan Clarke-Smith have resigned as deputy chairs of the Conservative party after defying Rishi Sunak by backing rightwing challenges to the Rwanda deportation bill.

The rebellion on Monday evening by two senior “red wall” MPs had been regarded as a direct threat to the prime minister’s authority.