Robert Jenrick's resignation as immigration minister fuels Labour's demand for a general election as Tories 'rip themselves apart' and Keir Starmer's party claim Rishi Sunak's premiership is in its 'desperate dying days'

Labour tonight crowed at the Tories 'ripping themselves apart' following Robert Jenrick's bombshell resignation as immigration minister.

Sir Keir Starmer's party reiterated their demands for a general election as they claimed Rishi Sunak's Government had entered its 'desperate dying days'.

Mr Jenrick's departure as a Cabinet minister has blown up the Prime Minister's hopes of reviving the Rwanda migrant scheme.

His exit came as Mr Sunak published emergency laws aimed at manoeuvring around the Supreme Court's block on plans to send asylum seekers to east Africa.

In a resignation letter to the PM, Mr Jenrick said he could not continue in his role 'when I have such strong disagreements with the direction of the Government's policy on immigration'.

He attacked Mr Sunak's new legislation as 'a 'triumph of hope over experience' and suggested it offered little chance of success in getting flights to Rwanda in the air.

As the Tories plunged into fresh meltdown - including claims that Mr Sunak's position as PM was now in peril - Labour seized on the latest bout of Conservative civil war.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said Mr Jenrick's resignation was a 'sign of total Tory chaos' and the 'collapse' of Mr Sunak's leadership.

'A Tory party ripping itself apart, a Tory PM too weak to lead a Government,' she added. 'Britain deserves better than this.'

Earlier, Ms Cooper had quizzed Home Secretary James Cleverly in the House of Commons over the new emergency legislation aimed at reviving the Rwanda scheme.

With Mr Jenrick's resignation yet to be confirmed at that stage, she told MPs: 'This is total chaos in the Government and in the Conservative Party.

'This is the desperate dying days of a party ripping itself apart, clearly totally out of ideas, lost any sense of leadership or direction.

'We've got a Home Secretary making the statement but the rumours that the immigration minister has resigned.

'Where is he? Perhaps he can make that the first question that he answers – whether he still has an immigration minister in place.

'They've got open warfare among their backbenches, the starting gun fired on the next leadership election and once again the whole country paying the price for this chaos.'

Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, said: 'This latest chaotic chapter demonstrates why the country is ready for change. And Keir Starmer's changed Labour Party stands ready.

'The British people deserve a Government that will fix the issues that matter to working people, not a Tory circus of gimmicks and leadership posturing.'

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, his party's home affairs spokesperson, said: 'This is yet more Conservative chaos as another minister flees this sinking ship of a Government.

'Rishi Sunak is no longer in control of his party and has lost the support of the country.

'The Prime Minister knows that his Rwanda plan is totally unworkable, immoral and a complete waste of taxpayers' money.

'It is time the Government scrapped it and focused on fixing the broken asylum system instead of fighting amongst themselves.'