All eyes are on what’s happening with the cross-party amendments to two bits of legislation on Leveson, but this afternoon in the Commons there could well be another row on the Crime and Courts Bill. As we reported last week, Conservative MP Dominic Raab has an amendment to the legislation which would limit the opportunities for foreign criminals to avoid deportation. It has over 100 MPs signed up to it, including Labour grandees such as David Blunkett.
But I also understand that a number of Conservative PPSs have contacted their whips saying that they would like to support this amendment and that they want to be given leave to do so. The whips could refuse and place a three-line whip on the proposal, but that hasn’t been clarified yet. If they did, then any PPS voting with Raab and colleagues would have to resign or be sacked.
Theresa May was reported over the weekend to be considering her own amendment which would stop this backbench one causing so much trouble.
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