Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has appeared to distance himself from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's immigration policies, expressing frustration that his own plans to curb net migration were not implemented earlier. Speaking in the Commons, Jenrick said he would have brought forward measures 'before last Christmas' if possible, amid reports he has presented a five-point plan to No 10.
Official figures published last week showed net migration reached a record 745,000 in 2022, prompting calls from Conservative hardliners for action. Jenrick stated: 'We have to reduce net migration and that does mean taking difficult choices... The public are sick of talk – they want action.'
Former home secretary Suella Braverman claimed Sunak reneged on a deal to implement caps on work visas and increase minimum salary levels. Tory MP Jonathan Gullis questioned the cabinet's commitment, asking whether members were 'full-fat, semi-skimmed or skimmed' on migration.
No 10 downplayed any split, with a spokesperson saying it was 'not unusual for policy to be discussed in the normal way'. However, reports suggest a cabinet divide over tackling illegal immigration, with Sunak reluctant to block human rights laws to facilitate the Rwanda asylum scheme.
