Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom vowed yesterday to do everything in her power to keep the UK united as she launched her bid for the Tory leadership.
The frontbencher and leading Brexiteer also pledged to make “rapid decisions” on airport expansion in the south-east of England if she wins the contest to be the next prime minister.
Fellow Leave campaigner Dr Liam Fox, who is running against her, said he would back a third runway at Heathrow – as per the Airports Commission recommendation – to end the “scandalous” delays.
A decision, previously put back to enable an environmental assessment, was due this summer, but has been deferred again until at least October.
David Cameron’s resignation means one will now not be taken until a new Conservative leader is elected.
Mrs Leadsom and Dr Fox are among five candidates vying for the top job. The others are Home Secretary Theresa May,
Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Inverness-born Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb.
Setting out her vision for a Leadsom premiership, the former businesswoman said freedom of movement would end, enabling the British Parliament to decide how many people enter the UK each year to live and work.
She added that the EU withdrawal negotiations should be as short as possible, arguing not everything had to be worked out before the two-year period to secure a deal is triggered.
And she said the team she would set up to lead Britain to Brexit would work closely with colleagues from the devolved administrations to “make the most of the important opportunity that lies ahead”.
She went on: “I will do everything in my power to keep the UK united.”
In a swipe at frontrunner Remainer Mrs May, who has not ruled out deportation, Mrs Leadsom insisted she would not use
EU citizens living in the UK as “bargaining chips”, promising their rights would be preserved.
Outlining his proposed programme for government, Dr Fox said Britain should leave the European single market if it is the price for ending free movement of EU citizens and controlling immigration.
The 330 Conservative MPs will vote today (Tues) in the first round of the election, with the poorest performing candidate being eliminated.
Further rounds will take place on Thursday and the following Tuesday until only two contenders remain. The new leader will be chosen from these two in a ballot of around 150,000 Conservative Party members, due to end on September 9.