KEMI Badenoch has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to get a grip on immigration levels.
The Tory leadership contender said when she was in government she blocked a trade deal which would have seen migration soar.
Her comments came at a closed-door hustings for Conservative MPs, who today vote on whittling down the six contenders for the party’s top job to five.
Ex-International Trade Secretary Kemi told MPs: “Legal immigration is far too high. It’s unfair.
“I will do what it takes to bring it down. I refused to let the Indian trade deal through when Liz Truss demanded it.
“They wanted student visas with dependants — I said no.”
She faced pressure at the event yesterday over her refusal to pledge to either leave the European Court of Human Rights or set an annual migration cap.
Both have been promised by her closest rival Robert Jenrick.
He yesterday defended his previous stance as immigration minister.
In 2017 he told the Commons: “It requires from the Conservative party a tone on immigration that shows to the world we are open to the best and brightest and an approach that embraces economic liberalism.”
A source close to Mr Jenrick last night defended his remarks, adding: “Sadly, ministers at the time lowered the salary threshold and delivered mass low-skilled migration instead. That was a betrayal.”
During his own launch event yesterday, candidate Tom Tugendhat — who appeared to have a halo when pictured — apologised for his party’s behaviour in power and said it “owed you better”.
