Sunak insists Tories are not a 'joke' on Rwanda as PM forced to plead with Labor to back plan

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Rishi Sunak is fighting to save his flagship Rwanda policy – ​​and his prime ministership – after a desperate defense of his new deportation bill fails failed to stop a growing revolt by Tory MPs on both sides of the country. party.

The embattled prime minister dodged questions about whether he could be forced to call a general election if he fails to pass the bill through Parliament, in the biggest political crisis he has faced as number 10.

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Hardliners on the conservative right have said they could rebel in a “existential” confrontation vote on Tuesday, while One Nation moderates remain “nervous” about supporting the bill.

Mr. Sunak was warned he could even soon face a leadership vote if he "upset" more MPs by getting them to submit letters of no confidence. Some MPs claimed almost two dozen letters had already been submitted to the Conservatives' all-powerful 1922 Committee - requiring 53 of them to vote on its future.

The Prime Minister attempted to face right. wingers at a hastily called press conference, telling them their demands to withdraw from all human rights laws would see his controversial Rwanda project collapse.

But the conservative leader stopped short of threatening to expel them if they defied him. next week – rejecting the idea that he would turn the bill into a “support me or sack me” vote of confidence.

Sunak refused to do so. say if he will call elections if his bill is rejected

Accused by the opposition of being a “...