A combination picture shows Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaks to the media at an event to launch his campaign to be the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister, in London, Britain, July 12, 2022, and British Foreign Secretary and Conservative leadership campaign candidate Liz Truss speaks during her campaign launch event, in London, Britain July 14, 2022. REUTERS
LONDON 鈥� Britain鈥檚 two contenders to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister promised on Sunday to tackle illegal immigration as a priority, with both backing the government鈥檚 policy of sending migrants to Rwanda.
Former finance minister Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss are battling to become Britain鈥檚 next prime minister after a revolt over Johnson鈥檚 scandal-ridden administration forced the prime minister to say he would stand down.
The two candidates have so far clashed over the timing of any tax cuts at a time when Britain is facing rising inflation, stalling growth and an increasing number of strikes.
Sunak on Saturday described himself as 鈥渢he underdog鈥� after Truss topped opinion polls among the Conservative Party members who will appoint their next leader, and Britain鈥檚 prime minister, with the result due on Sept. 5.
On Sunday both candidates set out their plans to press ahead with the government鈥檚 policy of sending illegal migrants to Rwanda, though the first deportation flight was blocked last month by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Truss, who is tipped as favorite to win the leadership contest, said she would look to pursue more 鈥渢hird country processing partnerships like Rwanda鈥�, would increase the border force by 20% and strengthen Britain鈥檚 Bill of Rights.
鈥淎s prime minister, I am determined to see the Rwanda policy through to full implementation as well as exploring other countries where we can work on similar partnerships,鈥� Truss said in a statement.
鈥淚鈥檒l make sure we have the right levels of force and protection at our borders. I will not cower to the ECHR and its continued efforts to try and control immigration policy.鈥�
Sunak, who won the backing of most Conservative lawmakers in earlier leadership votes, said he would treat illegal immigration as 鈥渙ne of five major emergency responses鈥� he will tackle in his first 100 days as prime minister.
鈥淚鈥檒l take a hard-headed targets approach, with incentives for people who meet them and penalties for those who don鈥檛,鈥� he wrote in The Sun newspaper.
鈥淚f a country won鈥檛 cooperate on taking back illegal migrants, I won鈥檛 think twice about our relationship with them when it comes to foreign aid, trade and visas.鈥�
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