Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset has voted to support the Rwanda Bill at the third reading, saying it is better to vote it through with misgivings than to kill it off and have no legislation to build upon.
‘While I do believe the Bill could have been stronger, my colleagues and I have done all we reasonably can to tighten it,’ says Drax, ‘This vote was the moment we needed to get behind it; it’s the only game in town.’
‘Voting against or abstaining at this stage would only have damaged attempts to deter small boats from crossing the Channel. I have tried - and now it is time to back the Government.’
‘I was not prepared to find myself in the same voting lobby as Jeremy Corbyn. Labour have nothing to say and no plans to deal with illegal migration.’
‘I am acutely aware that the majority of my constituents want to see tougher action on illegal migrants; I agree with them. We have a daily, very visible reminder of the situation with the Bibby Stockholm barge on Portland.’
‘But we have debated this matter to a standstill and it was better to vote it through with misgivings than to kill it off. Now it’s time to ensure that something remains on which we can build.’