UK: Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss pledge to tackle illegal immigration

The race to become the next leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party and the new Prime Minister narrowed down to the final two candidates last week. In their respective arguments regarding policies they would tackle if they are elected, both pledged to tackle the issue of illegal immigration.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss and former finance minister Rishi Sunak both pledged to tackle illegal immigration Sunday as they made the case as to why they should be chosen.

Truss and Sunak became the final two contenders to become the UK’s next Prime Minister last week following the resignation of Boris Johnson, who ultimately stepped down amid growing calls to do so by members of his party and after a series of scandals that plagued his administration.

When it came to the key issue of illegal immigration, both Sunak and Truss supported the government’s policy of sending illegal migrants to Rwanda. However, the first deportation was blocked by the European Court of Human Rights last month.

Truss, who is seen as the favorite to win the race, said she would pursue more “third country processing partnerships like Rwanda” and would increase the border force by 20 percent while strengthening the UK’s Bill of Rights.

Sunak, who consistently received the most votes among Conservative lawmakers, said he would approach illegal migration as “one of five major emergency responses” that he plans to take on in his first 100 days in office if he is elected.

Truss is also looking to step up her campaign on Monday by unveiling her plans to create low-regulation investment zones and more freeports. In a statement, Truss said that if she is elected as the new prime minister, she will seek to work with local communities to identify areas for redevelopment to become investment zones, or what she describes as “full fat freeports.”

“Instead, by creating these new Investment Zones we will finally prove to businesses that we’re committed to their futures and incentivize them to stimulate the investment that will help deliver for hardworking people,” said the statement.

Such zones will have a low tax burden aimed to drive investment and construction and will have reduced planning restrictions along with specific regulations that would encourage “high value industries.”