Rishi Sunak has insisted “the economy is turning a corner” and urged Tory MPs to “stick to the plan” amid reports of a plot to oust him before the election.
The prime minister is seeking to shift the political debate to the gradually improving economic outlook as he tries to shore up his leadership.
With many Tories increasingly fearful about losing their seats, there have been claims some MPs are considering replacing him with Commons leader Penny Mordaunt.
Launching a fightback, Mr Sunak vowed that 2024 “will be the year Britain bounces back” in remarks issued by Downing Street on Sunday night.
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Sunak ‘will lead Tories’ in election
He faces another tough week with his Rwanda Bill returning to the Commons and an appearance before the backbench 1922 committee.
Mr Sunak said he hopes to see “more progress” on inflation when the Office for National Statistics releases the latest inflation data on Wednesday.
“There is now a real sense that the economy is turning a corner with all the economic indicators pointing in the right direction.
“This year, 2024, will be the year Britain bounces back.
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“Inflation has more than halved, with the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) forecasting it will hit its 2% target in just a few months’ time, a full year ahead of what they were forecasting just a few months ago.”
On Monday, Mr Sunak will set out reforms to boost apprenticeships and cut red tape for small businesses at a conference in Warwickshire.
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MPs will later consider changes made to his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill by the House of Lords.
The government will seek to overturn peers’ amendments after it suffered 10 defeats in the upper chamber.
But a poll by Focaldata commissioned by the British Future think tank found majority public support for almost all of the changes proposed by the Lords to introduce extra safeguards.
The deportation policy also faces fresh criticism after a cabinet minister failed to guarantee migrant flights will take off before the general election and reports that Kigali has insisted on a staggered approach to the implementation of the policy.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper on Sunday said it was the government’s “intention” for flights to begin before voters go to the polls, but refused to guarantee it.
The Times reported that the first flights are unlikely to take off before mid-May, and that Kigali wants to test the policy with a pause of two months after it accepts the first migrants.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted: “Unbelievable. Govt finally admitting here that Tories’ flagship £500m Rwanda scheme will only cover around 150 people.
“Probable cost of this failing gimmick to British taxpayer is near £2m per person.”