Rishi Sunak has been warned he faces "guaranteed defeat" at the next general election unless he cracks down on migration, his former Immigration Minister has claimed, as the Prime Minister's Rwanda policy is facing a rebellion from Tory MPs.
Robert Jenrick urged Sunak not to make a "huge mistake" ahead of Autumn's general election, where it is predicted that Labour could win in a landslide victory.
The legislation, which will be debated in the House of Commons for a second time this week, is expected to face a number of amendments from MPs.
Sunak hopes Government will be able to rule Rwanda as a "safe country" once the bill passes, after the Supreme Court ruled it is not safe for migrants.
No flights have left the UK for Rwanda since the Bill was introduced in 2022
PAIn an exclusive interview, Sunak told GB News that he is determined to "not let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off and this deterrent working".
More than 60 Tory MPs including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman have proposed amendments, to strengthen the legislation to guarantee that migrants can definitely be flown to Rwanda.
Speaking to GB News, Robert Jenrick said cracking down on both illegal and legal migration is "really important for the future of our country".
The former Immigration Minister, one of the members seeking amendments to the Bill, urged his proposed amendments to be made in order to "meet our manifesto commitment".
Jenrick told GB News: "It looks as though they're going to drag it out over a series of reviews for potentially another year or so, which would mean that this isn't implemented before the next general election.
"That to me and maybe many would be a huge mistake.
"That would guarantee defeat at the next general election because this is quite clearly one of the most important issues in British politics."
Jenrick then shed doubt on the trust the Conservative Party shares with their voters, highlighting that the "most important issue" facing Britain today is the surging illegal migration figures.
Robert Jenrick says Rishi Sunak will make a 'huge mistake' in not cracking down on migration before the general election
GB News
The MP for Newark called on Rishi Sunak to "take up the mantle" on his manifesto promise to "stop the boats".
Jenrick stated: "To many voters, many Conservative voters, this is the most important issue. And as I say that the time for talk is clearly over.
"All we can do to win the trust of those Conservative voters now is to deliver.
"And so I really urge the Prime Minister to take up the mantle of this and I will certainly keep pressing it as hard as I can."