UK – RWANDA: Rishi Sunak says rest of Europe could copy UK plans to send migrants to .

Britain is leading the world in the battle against illegal immigration, Rishi Sunak claimed as he defended taking « bold and radical action to tackle this problem ». Rishi Sunak says rest of Europe could copy UK plans to send migrants to Rwanda. By Steph Spyro

Rishi Sunak. The PM claims the EU are soon to follow suit (Image: Getty)

Britain is leading the world in the battle against illegal immigration, Rishi Sunak claimed as he defended taking « bold and radical action to tackle this problem ».

In the clearest sign yet that he had no intention of backing away from the controversial plan to send illegal migrants to Rwanda, the Prime Minister declared that « where we lead others will follow ».

Ahead of meetings with world leaders at the G20 summit in India, the Prime Minister said that other countries are now looking at « similar solutions » and said tackling this challenge would require « global co-ordination ».

The PM also said Britain is working to strengthen migrant return agreements with a range of countries. And in a boost for Mr Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her country is ready to « intensify » co-­operation with the UK on migration.

When asked whether other countries are following his lead on the Rwanda scheme, he said: « I said Britain would be tough but fair, and where Britain leads others will follow. We have been willing to take bold and radical action to tackle this problem.

« I said that other countries would look at similar solutions, and you can start to see that they are with the news from Austria and, more broadly, across Europe. »

Austria last week backed calls for a Rwanda-style scheme for EU members, with immigration a key electoral issue in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands later this year.

Rishi Sunak and Rwandan President. Rishi Sunak doubles down on Rwandan decision (Image: Getty)

Describing his meeting with Ms Meloni – at which the leaders discussed working « closer together » on migration – he said: « She and I have a view that this is an important topic that needs us to work together.

So that won’t be the last of these conversations I have. Ms Meloni, who sipped an Aperol spritz while Mr Sunak drank water during their meeting, defended Britain’s Rwanda policy earlier this year, saying it was a deal between two free nations which were safeguarding the safety of people, and that it was wrong to call it a deportation.

An upcoming Supreme Court ruling will determine whether flights carrying migrants to Rwanda can take off. Mr Sunak said that Britain had been « out in front, leading the conversation » on ­tackling illegal immigration.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer will this week launch an audacious bid to prove Labour is tougher on illegal immigration than the Con­­servatives, by announcing plans for a ­specialist unit in the National Crime Agency to fight people-smuggling gangs.

British officials will work with border officials overseas, with the crackdown funded by scrapping the Government’s scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, Sir Keir will say.