RISHI'S VOW: I WON'T BUDGE

PM tells Archbishop he WILL house migrants in barges and stands up to rebel Tory MPs

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

RISHI SUNAK vowed to "stay the course" and deliver for Britain last night as he faced down a simmering Tory revolt.

The PM brushed off criticism from the right of the party and doubled down on his commitment to fix the economy, cut NHS waiting lists and stop the boats crossing the channel.

He told the Sunday Express: "The public can rest assured, I'm on their side. People are sick of politicians flip-flopping and changing tack - I'm staying the course." Mr Sunak was in defiant mood as he warned he would secure as many barges "as it takes" to house illegal migrants. He pledged to hold pandemic-style cross-departmental summits every week to tackle the crisis.

And he dismissed the Archbishop of Canterbury's criticism of plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

Mr Sunak - who became PM just 200 days ago refused to budge as senior Tories lined up to tear into his record at a conference of activists.

He said: "I know times are tough that's why I'm focused on delivering on five priorities - halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats.