The government is “not contemplating” an early general election because ministers are “confident” the Rwanda bill will be approved by MPs, Michael Gove has told Sky News.

Speaking to the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the cabinet minister said the emergency legislation was “a tough but also proportionate measure”.

The levelling up secretary indicated the government was open to making changes to the controversial draft law which faces a crucial first vote in the Commons on Tuesday, with the Conservatives deeply divided.

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A rebellion of just 28 Tories could deliver a humiliating defeat for the government.

Asked if there will be an early election if the Rwanda bill does not pass the Commons, Mr Gove said: “No we’re not contemplating that because I’m confident that when people look at the legislation – and have a chance to reflect – that they will recognise that this is a tough but also proportionate measure.

“And of course, we will listen to opinion within the House of Commons.”

It came as Rishi Sunak was dealt a fresh blow by members of his own party, who have concluded his Rwanda bill is not fit for purpose.

Lawyers on the Tory right have said that the legislation is not “sufficiently watertight” – meaning illegal migrants could begin prolonged legal challenges in an attempt to stay in the UK.

The European Research Group believes the law’s current wording will fail to help achieve the objective of deporting those who cross the Channel in small boats.

Sir Bill Cash, who chaired so-called “star chamber”, told The Sunday Telegraph he hopes the report will help the government decide whether the bill needs further amendments.

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More moderate Tories are weighing up whether they can support the plans amid concerns about compelling courts to find Rwanda is a “safe” country to send asylum seekers.

Mr Gove said: “We take seriously the views of colleagues, particularly eminent colleagues like Sir Bill who have deep and profound legal experience.

“But we believe this Bill is tough and robust, and more than that, you can look, you can read down the Bill, compare it to the Supreme Court judgment, and you can see that this Bill will ensure that all of the reasons that were used in the past to prevent people going to Rwanda are dealt with.”

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis told Phillips he would be backing the bill.

He said: “The legislation is about the toughest immigration legislation I’ve ever seen in truth, and I actually think the prime minister is right that it can’t go any further.

“He has to take a grip of this.

“I actually think this is a really hard piece of law… it’s literally written on the decision of the Supreme Court.”

He also had a dig at sacked home secretary Suella Braverman, who has been scathing of the approach being taken by Mr Sunak and the Home Office.

Mr Davis said: “It’s a tough job… but it’s all very well for her to come along and blame everybody else now.

“She’s been in charge of this department for well over a year, and it didn’t improve.”

Warning colleagues against manouvreing over a potential future leadership bid, he pointed out “people who trade off their own future against the future of the party always lose”.

Also appearing on Phillips’ show, Labour frontbencher Liz Kendall said: “We want to use the money spent on Rwanda to have a different plan that actually works.

“The problem is we have seen the government spend months and months on a plan going around in circles.

“We need to end these small boat crossings because it is extremely bad for national security as well as the lives lost.”

Highlighting Labour’s plan for an “elite” cross-border force to tackle the people smugglers, she said: “We have an alternative plan for the future.

“I am under no illusions about how difficult this whole issue of illegal immigration is going to be but there is a different approach that tackles those networks and supply chains of those criminal gangs.”

Last night, Mr Sunak attacked Labour’s illegal migration policy – as Sir Keir Starmer in turn accused the Conservatives of “fighting like rats in a sack”.

The prime minister has called on Labour to “rise above political games” and back his emergency legislation, even though Mr Sunak is currently battling to keep his own MPs on side.

It comes after Robert Jenrick resigned as immigration minister on Wednesday – claiming the Rwanda bill would spark a “merry-go-round” of legal challenges because it was too weak.