Cleverly Revives Rwanda Asylum Scheme Proposal

James Cleverly has announced his intention to revive the controversial Rwanda asylum scheme during his campaign to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader. The shadow home secretary emphasized the need for a deterrent to illegal migration and criticized Labour for scrapping the scheme, which was intended to deter asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel. Despite being accused of previously labeling the scheme as 'batshit,' Cleverly has not refuted the claim but insists he will leverage his relationships to restore the partnership with Rwanda. He also expressed a desire to return to pro-business policies reminiscent of the Thatcher era, pledging to abolish stamp duty and increase defense spending to 3% of GDP. However, he declined to commit to a specific net migration target or leaving the European Court of Human Rights, suggesting a more nuanced approach to migration policy. The Tory leadership contest is heating up, with Cleverly aiming to distance himself from past failures and regain voter trust.