James Cleverly has vowed to resurrect the Rwanda plan while formally launching his bid to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party.
The shadow home secretary told supporters and activists that migration will not be brought down without a “deterrent”.
“When we deal with illegal migration, I stand by what I have always said, we need to have a deterrent,” he said at the Old War Office in central London.
“And as leader, as prime minister, I will use my contacts and my reputation with Rwanda to resurrect that incredibly important partnership.”
Mr Cleverly also said he wants to return to the “Thatcherite era” of pro-business policies.
Speaking in London, he said: “I'm struck by the difference between that pro-business environment that Margaret Thatcher created and the massively anti-business environment under Gordon Brown and Labour,” the shadow home secretary said.
“And I want to go back to that Thatcherite era where entrepreneurs are rewarded, wealth creators are a key part of our society, and we get back into the habit of being on the front foot rather than the back foot.”