Sunak came out fighting after his government’s latest attempt to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda sparked the resignation of his immigration minister, who said it did not go far enough.

His ex-interior minister, Suella Braverman, also said the law was destined to fail and urged Sunak to change course on immigration — a major political battleground in next year’s expected general election.

At a hastily convened news conference in Downing Street, the prime minister sought to appease right-wing Tories who want him to withdraw Britain from the European Court of Human Rights, to stop courts blocking removals.

He also denied that a vote on the Rwanda legislation expected in parliament next week would amount to a confidence vote on his leadership.