Nigel Farage has challenged Rishi Sunak to a live TV debate on immigration. The honorary chairman of Reform UK accused the Prime Minister of calling the surprise general election because he knows his Rwanda plan “simply wouldn't work”.
The former UKIP leader insisted that if Mr Sunak refuses to debate him it will “confirm the fact that Sunak cannot hold the boats back”.
Writing in The Telegraph, Farage said: “It looks like immigration, legal and illegal, will dominate this general election campaign.
'The main reason for this snap election is that Sunak knew his promise that planes would fly to Rwanda from July simply wouldn't work.
“Now it is clear that no planes will take off before the July 4 election day.
'Remember that a single judge of the European Court of Human Rights could prevent a plane that was already on the tarmac from taking off.
'We will never solve this dangerous problem unless we leave the ECtHR, and Starmer has no credibility whatsoever in tackling this issue. Brexit Britain should not be bound by a European court.
“Our Prime Minister seems keen to take part in many televised election debates and I challenge him to debate me on this issue. If he refuses it will reinforce the fact that Sunak cannot stop the boats.”
A Tory source suggested Sunak would decline the invitation because he wanted to debate Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer about border controls.
A Conservative Party source said: “A vote for reform is a vote for Labour.
“The Prime Minister wants to debate immigration Keir Starmer because we have a clear plan to stop the boats, but because Starmer's only idea is an amnesty for illegal migration, he is trying to withdraw.'
Mr Farage's challenge comes ahead of a speech in Dover today, in his first major intervention in the election campaign.
He is not an MP but plans to campaign for reforms across the country.