Friends of Rishi Sunak’s immigration minister believe he has quit in protest over the Rwanda Bill to get deportation flights off the ground.
Speculation was fueled when he failed to appear in the Commons for this evening’s statement presenting the Bill which was made by Home Secretary James Cleverly.
Earlier friends confirmed he was “teetering” over resigning after the Bill was in effect watered down in the eyes of some critics and allowed for potential legal challenges.
One source close to Mr Jenrick said: “It looks like he has resigned but is not comfirmed yet.”
Mr Cleverly presented the Bill with a grim looking Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sat next to him and Attorney General Victoria Prentis on the other side.
Mr Jenrick had been supposed to present the Bill but was absent from the front bench having been spotted earlier “looking very unhappy” according to sources.
One MP messaged: “Where is the Immigration Minister? Has he resigned. He should be here if not.”
If he has quit it will be a massive blow to Mr Sunak and the loss of a minister who for years was one of his closest political friends and allies.
It is also likely to trigger letters calling for a vote of confidence in his leadership.
Throughout the statement Labour MPs could be heard heckling “where’s Robert?” as they appeared to smell blood.
