Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake Berry said he joined 36 other Tories in abstaining over the government's controversial Rwanda Bill to make sure the final legislation is 'as watertight as possible'.

He spoke after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flagship proposal passed its first Commons hurdle with a majority of 44, as a threatened rebellion failed to materialise into Conservative backbenchers actually voting against it.

The bill, which aims to to send a small number of asylum seekers to Rwanda to be processed, passed by 313 votes to 269 on Tuesday night, with 37 Conservatives failing to record a vote.

The long debate and vote came after news of the death of an asylum seeker on the Bibby Stockholm barge, reportedly by suicide.

Blackburn Labour MP Kate Hollern voted against the bill, but her East Lancashire Conservative counterparts Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn), Antony Higginbotham (Burnley) and Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) all voted in favour.

Chorley MP and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and Ribble Valley Tory and deputy speaker Nigel Evans, who both chaired part of the debate, were unable to vote because of their Parliamentary positions.

Sir Jake said: “I, along with all Conservative colleagues want to make sure flights go to Rwanda and we stop the scourge of illegal migration, which puts money in the hands of vile people smugglers that trade in human misery.

“Because of this, I want to see this bill as watertight as possible and the government have been clear they will listen to suggestions to amend the bill at committee stage, to ensure we have the best chance of dealing with this situation in the most effective way.

“I look forward to working with ministerial colleagues to ensure these flights take off and we bring an end to small boats crossing the channel.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Kate Hollern, Blackburn MPKate Hollern, Blackburn MP

Explaining her opposition to the plans, Mrs Hollern said: "This failing scheme has already cost the British taxpayer £300 million.

"Despite this, not a single flight has taken off. So far, more Home Secretaries than asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda.

"This cruel and hateful legislation undermines our duty to uphold human rights. ”

Miss Britcliffe said: "I voted to reduce illegal immigration.

“We cannot continue with the current system and things have to change.

“Sadly, the Labour Party voted against tougher restrictions on illegal migration, showing once again that they’re too London-centric to care what voters in places like Hyndburn think.”

Health minister Mr Stephenson said: "I backed the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

"This is in line with what I believe most Pendle residents would want, as they wish to see a fair migration and asylum system that doesn’t prioritise irregular migrants over people who have come here legally or over the most vulnerable people living in real danger.”

Mr Higginbotham said: "I want to stop the boats.

"This legislation is the best chance we have of doing that, of ending the criminal trade in people smuggling, and of setting up the strong deterrent factor that the Rwanda scheme will bring."