Rishi Sunak insists mission to stop the boats is working but won’t say when he’ll fulfil pledge during grilling by MPs

RISHI Sunak today insisted his mission to stop the boats IS working - but refused to timestamp when dinghies will no longer cross the Channel.

During a grilling by senior MPs, Mr Sunak argued his flagship promise to end illegal migration hasn't been put on hold.

And he said that despite the Rwanda deportation scheme being held up in courts, the number of people paying evil smugglers for a ticket to Britain is slowing.

The PM pointed to a returns agreement with Albania as proof the government crackdown is working.

According to the Home Office the number of Albanians illegally entering the UK has dropped by 90% this year.

"Our plan to stop the boats is not on hold," a defiant Mr Sunak said.

"A good example of this is Albania.

"Because of the new deal we’re now able to return people to Albania.

"It shows you can make a difference on this policy."

Mr Sunak repeatedly dodged questions over when exactly his promise to stop the boats will be achieved.

The pledge was dealt a fresh blow last week as the Court of Appeal ruled deportations to be illegal.

And there are also now questions over whether the PM will achieve his vow to halve inflation by the end of the year, as high prices have stagnated.

Mr Sunak said the Rwanda scheme's hold up in court means that timings are now out of his control and in the hands of judges.

"The court will determine its own ruling," Mr Sunak said.

"That’s outside of the government’s hands - it’s the court that determines that.

";But in the meantime we can get on with a range of other things, like the deal with Albania.

"One of the other things we’ve done is increase the number of illegal working raids.

"All of that will contribute to a deterrent effect."