The Prime Minister is facing pressure over net migration figures (Image: GETTY)
Tory MPs warned Rishi Sunak that the issue of immigration is "do or die" for the party after new figures showed net migration hit a record level of 745,000.
The New Conservatives highlighted how the Tories promised to reduce numbers at the 2019 general election but they have since gone up.
The group, made up of Tory MPs elected since the Brexit referendum, added that the Government "must act now".
They said in a statement: "The word ‘existential’ has been used a lot in recent days but this really is ‘do or die’ for our party.
Powered By
00:00/01:32
10
10
Rishi Sunak chairs first Cabinet meeting following reshuffle
Share
Next
Stay
"Each of us made a promise to the electorate. We don’t believe that such promises can be ignored.
Trending
"The Government must propose, today, a comprehensive package of measures to meet the manifesto promise by the time of the next election. We will assess any such package and report publicly on whether it will meet the promise made to the electorate.
"The Prime Minister, Chancellor and new Home Secretary must show that they stand by the promises on which we were elected to Parliament. We must act now."
The group - led by Miriam Cates, Danny Kruger and Sir John Hayes - blamed "policy decision" by the Goverment for the increasing net migration figures and warned the public "won't accept it".
They said: "Across every single category of immigration, numbers are on the rise.
"We cannot blame exceptional circumstances; this is a consistent trend. It has been caused directly by the policy decisions of this Government. And it has gone on for far too long."
In a statement, the New Conservatives said:
"At the last election, every Conservative MP was elected on a solemn promise to reduce net migration, which in 2019 stood at 229,000 per year. Since then, in poll after poll, the public have made clear that they are prepared to support…
— The New Conservatives (@thenewcons) November 23, 2023
"For the Treasury, there may be reasonable arguments for increasing immigration - because more people translates into more recorded economic activity - but the truth is the public won’t accept it.
"Our voters can tell the difference between real economic growth that improves the standard of living for ordinary households, and the phantom ‘growth’ that importing ever more people puts on a Treasury spreadsheet.
"High rates of immigration depress wages, reduce investment in skills and technology, put unsustainable pressure on housing and public services, and threaten community cohesion."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Fury as thousands of work visas given to migrants on low wages that undercut British staff
90 Comments
Rishi Sunak confirms tax cuts are coming in Autumn Statement: 'We will reward work'
687 Comments
Rishi Sunak's global tax deal is worse than handing powers to the EU, says Fred de Fossad
22 Comments
What is the point of this copycat Autumn Statement ripping off Liz Truss's mini-Budget?
94 Comments
'What on earth?' Rishi Sunak is braced for a major new headache - and there will be fury
34 Comments
Now even drivers are abandoning Tories in another blow to Rishi Sunak - new poll
899 Comments
What will Jeremy Hunt announce in the Autumn Statement?
5 Comments
Rishi Sunak set to be the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat in an election
1126 Comments
Autumn Statement: Rishi Sunak will have to put his money where his mouth is in tax cuts
42 Comments
Jeremy Hunt prepares to slash tax for millions in days after securing major ￡26bn lifeline
793 Comments
What to expect from Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement today - the 5 major cuts we could see
123 Comments
Warning left-wing ‘Blob' will plot to ruin chances of sending migrants to Rwanda
58 Comments
Rishi Sunak requested delay of record high 700,000 migration stats to avoid humiliation
284 Comments
Tory fightback begins! Liz Truss leads fresh tax cut demands with ultimatum to Rishi Sunak
87 Comments
POLL: Do you think immigration is too high? Have your say
305 Comments
Rishi Sunak about to be hit by a major Tory row with net migration now at record high
1263 Comments
‘Damage limitation': Jeremy Hunt's Budget won't stop election defeat, says Ann Widdecombe
110 Comments
Moderates battle to drag the Tories back to centre ground
43 Comments
Triple lock victory as Autumn Statement secures ￡900 boost to the state pension
246 Comments
James Cleverly to order crackdown on visa abuses amid fury over migration figures
280 Comments
Fury as thousands of work visas given to migrants on low wages that undercut British staff
90 Comments
Rishi Sunak confirms tax cuts are coming in Autumn Statement: 'We will reward work'
687 Comments
Rishi Sunak's global tax deal is worse than handing powers to the EU, says Fred de Fossad
22 Comments
What is the point of this copycat Autumn Statement ripping off Liz Truss's mini-Budget?
94 Comments
'What on earth?' Rishi Sunak is braced for a major new headache - and there will be fury
34 Comments
Now even drivers are abandoning Tories in another blow to Rishi Sunak - new poll
899 Comments
What will Jeremy Hunt announce in the Autumn Statement?
5 Comments
Rishi Sunak set to be the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat in an election
1126 Comments
Autumn Statement: Rishi Sunak will have to put his money where his mouth is in tax cuts
42 Comments
Jeremy Hunt prepares to slash tax for millions in days after securing major ￡26bn lifeline
793 Comments
What to expect from Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement today - the 5 major cuts we could see
123 Comments
Warning left-wing ‘Blob' will plot to ruin chances of sending migrants to Rwanda
58 Comments
Rishi Sunak requested delay of record high 700,000 migration stats to avoid humiliation
284 Comments
Tory fightback begins! Liz Truss leads fresh tax cut demands with ultimatum to Rishi Sunak
87 Comments
POLL: Do you think immigration is too high? Have your say
305 Comments
Rishi Sunak about to be hit by a major Tory row with net migration now at record high
1263 Comments
‘Damage limitation': Jeremy Hunt's Budget won't stop election defeat, says Ann Widdecombe
110 Comments
Moderates battle to drag the Tories back to centre ground
43 Comments
Triple lock victory as Autumn Statement secures ￡900 boost to the state pension
246 Comments
James Cleverly to order crackdown on visa abuses amid fury over migration figures
280 Comments
Fury as thousands of work visas given to migrants on low wages that undercut British staff
90 Comments
Rishi Sunak confirms tax cuts are coming in Autumn Statement: 'We will reward work'
687 Comments
Rishi Sunak's global tax deal is worse than handing powers to the EU, says Fred de Fossad
22 Comments
What is the point of this copycat Autumn Statement ripping off Liz Truss's mini-Budget?
94 Comments
'What on earth?' Rishi Sunak is braced for a major new headache - and there will be fury
34 Comments
Now even drivers are abandoning Tories in another blow to Rishi Sunak - new poll
899 Comments
What will Jeremy Hunt announce in the Autumn Statement?
5 Comments
It comes after revised estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed net migration to the UK in the year to December 2022 was higher than previously thought, up from 606,000 to 745,000.
The total for the year to June 2023 is estimated to be 672,000.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said the latest figure "is largely in line with our own immigration statistics" and insisted the Government "remains completely committed to reducing levels of legal migration".
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
Related articles Rishi Sunak is braced for a major new headache – and there will be fury Cleverly to order crackdown on visa abuses after fury over migration figures Sunak about to be hit by a major Tory row as net migration now at record high