Top Tory piles pressure on Kemi Badenoch by backing Robert Jenrick's call for net emigration

The policy would represent a radical shift in policy for the Tories who are battling to grasp the initiative from an insurgent Reform UK.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has said his party would introduce a “net zero” immigration policy, allowing no overall increase in the number of people entering the UK compared with those leaving.

Speaking on GB News, Mr Vickers urged the Conservatives to adopt an even tougher stance on immigration than Reform UK.

“Do you know what? Immigration has been way too high into this country for way too long”, he said.

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“I back Robert Jenrick’s position. We need to toughen up the system. If you bring someone to this country, you should be able to pay for them.

“Labour scrapped the idea we should have a £38,000 threshold, which means more people are entering legally. Illegally, it’s completely out of control. We’re at record levels. More people are entering than ever before.

“It’s not just a little bit, it’s more than 40 per cent. We can’t continue like that, we can’t sustain that. We need to sort it out and ensure the British taxpayer is put first in these situations.”

Despite appearing to encourage Ms Badenoch to adopt a tougher stance on immigration, Mr Vickers made it clear on GB News he remains fully supportive of the party leader.

“One of the things people criticise a certain other party for is they’re a one-man band”, he said.

“We have a team at the top, ready to deliver, punching on all fronts to ensure we are ready for Government.

“When we’ve won back that trust from the British people, we’re going to sort this immigration crisis out, we’re going to sort the economy out.

“By God, it’s going to be such a mess by the time of the next election if the current incumbent continues the way they are.”

Mr Jenrick's declaration has sparked what some describe as a policy competition with Farage over immigration restrictions.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has thrown her weight behind Jenrick's controversial plan, intensifying the internal Conservative debate on immigration policy. She endorsed the net emigration proposal, stating that "Britain cannot carry on like this, overcrowded, overstretched and overwhelmed."

Ms Braverman argued that British citizens "must be put first" and called for reversing migration flows rather than merely halting them. She linked immigration to declining living standards, claiming "You wonder why our quality of life has gone down, housing is so expensive, wages haven't gone up and you can't get a doctors appointment - it's because of out-of-control immigration".

Mr Jenrick outlined specific measures in a Spectator interview, including mass deportations that would encompass women and children. He advocated for Britain's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights and the establishment of detention facilities for asylum seekers.

The shadow justice secretary described these facilities as "rudimentary prisons", stating that asylum seekers "should be detained in camps".

A YouGov survey revealed that 52 per cent of respondents backed the concept of housing asylum seekers in prison-style camps, whilst 35 per cent opposed such measures.

Both Mr Jenrick and Mrs Braverman previously served under Rishi Sunak but departed or were dismissed after criticising his immigration approach as insufficient.

The Conservative Party faces a crucial decision on immigration policy as Badenoch prepares to unveil the party's official stance at the upcoming October conference.

Withdrawal from the ECHR is anticipated to feature prominently in the proposals, following an internal review examining the legal grounds for such action.