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TORY leadership rivals Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss were accused of “doubling down” on racism today after making new hardline migration pledges.
Foreign Secretary Ms Truss said she would send even more migrants to Africa under the controversial and widely criticised Rwanda asylum scheme.
And former chancellor Mr Sunak vowed to introduce a cap on refugee numbers if he becomes PM.
This means there would be a crackdown on migration to Britain in the coming months regardless of who wins the Tory leadership contest and becomes the next prime minister.
The two rival camps have traded blows over tax cuts and economic credibility, but appeared united on a tough migration policy.
Both candidates have backed the government’s controversial Rwanda asylum scheme, in which Britain currently stands to lose the £120 million it has paid to Rwanda if the plan to deport migrants is ruled unlawful by the courts.
Officials from the east African nation’s government confirmed this week it had received the entire initial payment for the agreement but only had the capacity to hold 200 migrants, rather than the 1,000 agreed.
The first deportation flight was grounded in June after a series of legal challenges, and another attempt is yet to be scheduled.
Ms Truss’s campaign said that as prime minister she would increase the front-line Border Force by 20 per cent and double the Border Force Maritime staffing levels.
Mr Sunak made a similar pledge on Rwanda, with his campaign promising to do “whatever it takes” for the scheme to succeed.
Campaigners slammed both candidates for “doubling down” on the Rwanda policy.
Stand Up to Racism co-convener Weyman Bennett told the Star the Tories were “blaming asylum-seekers and the Rwanda policy is doubling down on racism.”
Zita Holbourne, a co-founder of Barac (UK), said: “The fact that both would continue with the Rwanda policy instils zero faith in their ability to lead the country.
“These two have the chance to change course and act with humanity.”
Oxfam head of government relations Sam Nadel labelled the policy “cruel” and said: “If anything, this shows that the heat of campaigning leads to bad policy.”
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Instead of tackling criminal trafficking gangs they are just ramping up rhetoric against refugees.”
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will face off tonight in a live televised BBC debate.