Sunak refuses to recommit to Boris Johnson’s manifesto pledge to cut migration

Comes after home secretary said the government had ‘to get overall immigration numbers down’

Rishi Sunak refused to recommit to a Tory manifesto pledge made by Boris Johnson to bring down overall immigration levels.

The prime minister said he does want the net migration figure to fall, but would not stick to the pledge made by the Conservatives at the last election.

Instead Mr Sunak said on Wednesday he had “inherited some numbers” on migration and insisted voters were focused on tackling illegal migration, such as small boat crossings.