The Tory "five families"

The vote on the Rwanda bill provides a fascinating insight into factions within the Conservative Party - backgrounder and research task

It is important that we recognise that Britain's political partiers are coalitions in all but name. Indeed, it is possible to argue that if the electoral system for sending MPs to Westminster was replaced with one that was based on proportionately one of the consequences would be the fracturing of our parties as we know them, and the formation of lots of smaller groups of (more) like-minded people.

Rishi Sunak as PM has faced a torrid time since becoming the latest incumbent of No 10, with many of the challenges he has faced being of his own making. One of these being how Sunak has made his Rwanda deportation plan his flagship policy.

The bill designed to stop the boats faced its first major hurdle in the Commons this week. This short video clip from Sky News explains how the vote went, and introduces us to some of the key players within the parliamentary Tory sub-groups that operate in Westminster.

Background questions on the video:

1. How many MPs abstained from voting on the Rwanda Bill?

2. According to the former deputy PM, is the Prime Minister's victory a real victory or a delayed defeat?

3. What does the chair of the Brexiteer ERG group demand in relation to the bill?

4. What did Damian Green say about the government majority tonight?

5. Why did some MPs vote with the government?

6. Who resigned over the bill and is now a rebel ring leader?

7. What is the test of this policy according to Robert Jenrick?

8. What did the so-called five families of right-wing groups collectively decide?

9. What is the verdict on the Prime Minister's handling of the situation?

10. What will happen to the bill next month if there are no amendments?

Suggested answers:

1. 37 MPs abstained from voting on the Rwanda Bill.

2. The former deputy PM believes it is a victory for the Prime Minister.

3. The chair of the brexiteer ERG group demands major changes to the bill.

4. Daman Green said that the government majority tonight showed that the Prime Minister had a majority to get this through the house without significant amendments.

5. Some MPs voted with the government on the basis that they would be prepared to entertain some changes.

6. Robert Jenrick resigned over the bill and is now a rebel ring-leader.

7. The test of this policy is whether it will work.

8. The so-called five families of right-wing groups collectively decided not to support the bill tonight due to its many omissions.

9. The Prime Minister's handling of the situation is seen as seeing off a very dangerous moment, but the threat is delayed and not resolved.

10. Without amendments, the bill will be killed next month.

As an extension exercise, read the article below, and use the text to identify the five groups, say a bit more about their membership, and explain what each group's preferences is vis-a-vis the Rwanda bill.

Article from the i newspaper.