Human rights have become a 'joker to trump deportation' claims Tory MP as Cameron avoids showdown over Immigration Bill Home Secretary Theresa May tries to head off rebellion in the Commons Immigration Bill risks being derailed by rebellions who want tougher action Tory MP Dominic Raab tabled amendment on kicking out foreign criminals David Cameron was spared a confrontation on his flagship immigration laws after ordering his ministers not to oppose Tory rebels who want to make it easier to deport criminals. Tory MP Dominic Raab said human rights had become a 'joker' played by offenders to 'trump' deportation, and urged said ministers - rather than the courts - have the final say on whether an offender's family links are strong enough to allow them to stay in Britain. But with ministers told to abstain, Labour and Lib Dem MPs defeated the moved, sparing Mr Cameron's blushes. David Cameron,m who was giving evidence to a Commons committee as the crunch vote took place, told his ministers to abstain to save face As the Commo0ns debate got under way Home Secretary Theresa May today insisted the government would make it harder for people to come to the UK illegally as she tried to face down a Tory revolt over claims the clampdown does not go far enough. She tried to appease potential rebels last night by unveiling proposals that would mean terror suspects can be stripped of British citizenship even if it leaves them stateless. But Mr Raab said it was time the law was changed so foreign criminals could no longer use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - a right to a family life - to escape deportation. He revealed there were up to 400 cases each year where foreign criminals used Article 8 to avoid being sent to their home country, while 89 per cent of all successful appeals to remain in the UK relied on criminals basing their claim on a right to a family life. Under his amendment 'serious offenders cannot use Article 8 as the joker to wheel, pull out, trump deportation'. He added: 'Unless there is a tangible threat to life or limb, these convicted killers, rapists, drug-dealers and other very serious criminals should be sent home. They should not stay on the streets of Britain. But as the crunch vote approached, the government announced all ministers and aides would abstain, leaving the amendment to be defeated by 241 votes to 97, Government majority 144. Tory MP Dominic Raab wants the Home Secretary - rather than the courts - have the final say on whether an offender's family links are strong enough to allow them to avoid deportation Mr Cameron's flagship Bill risked being derailed by backbenchers who wanted him to go further in curbing the number of people coming to Britain and removing those here illegally. He brought forward new laws to limit access to benefits, employment and public services for immigrants. It includes new rules that EU migrants are unable to claim out-of-work benefits for their first three months in the UK. In the Commons today, Mrs May told MPs that the Bill would 'make it harder for people to come to the UK illegally and easier to remove people who are here illegally'. Mr Raab has accused the Government of trying to swamp his "commonsense" proposal by tabling a slew of its own amendments to the Bill. But Tory MP Geoffrey Cox, a barrister, said Mr Raab's amendment was the wrong way to try to deal with the problem. He said: 'The right way to approach an international obligation with which we have a legitimate dispute is to take an axe to the root of the cause of the problem, not continually worry away like a dog gnawing at its own tail in frustration at the problem that is at the root.' Home Secretary Theresa May insisted the government's Immigration Bill would 'make it harder for people to come to UK illegally and easier to remove people who are here illegally' Mr Cameron had sought to minimise the rebellion by stressing he shares his MPs' concerns about the behaviour of the European courts. And former Tory leader Lord Howard urged the party to show "discipline" and avoid a damaging split on the issue, stressing that winning the general election outright next year was the overriding goal. But Mr Raab's amendment was selected for debate, raising the prospect of a crunch vote later. More than 200 foreign criminals successfully challenge deportation on human rights grounds every year, with around 90 per cent relying on the "'right to private and family life" set out under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Raab's amendment would see the Home Secretary - rather than the courts - have the final say on whether an offender's family links are strong enough to allow them to avoid deportation. Foreign criminals who can prove they face torture, ill-treatment or death in their home country will still be able to overturn deportation orders under separate human rights measures. Mr Raab admitted there was a "risk" that the Government would face action from the European Court of Human Rights, but insisted the measure should not breach the rules because of allowances for exceptional circumstances.