Rishi Sunak set to come under fire over Clapham chemical attack
Both Labour and Tory rebels are expected to use the case, in which a woman and two children were seriously hurt, to target the prime minister in the Commons this week.
Sunday 4 February 2024 21:02, UK
Rishi Sunak will come under pressure from both Labour and Tory rebels this week over the Clapham chemical attack.
A huge manhunt is under way for the suspect, but politicians are looking to use the case to highlight political failings, the Politics at Jack and Sam's podcast reveals.
Labour is planning to suggest Home Office failings and a broken asylum system might have led to an Afghan asylum seeker being the main suspect in an attack on a woman and two children with an alkaline substance in Clapham, south London. In total, 12 people were hurt.
Tory plotters hoping to unseat the prime minister believe the episode shows the need for a policy like Rwanda to be introduced, and highlight its shortcomings once again.
The government is set to argue that the Home Office is not responsible for any mistakes and that any questionable decisions were made by an independent tribunal.
Labour voted against the illegal migration bill, which the government will point out stops anyone coming illegally from staying.
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The Home Office is braced for questions in the Commons on Monday.
Many of the key decisions around the suspect look likely to have been taken before Mr Sunak became prime minister. This is unlikely to deter his critics.