He made the comments before embarking for Rwanda's capital, Kigali, where he is due to attend a meeting of the Commonwealth's heads of government.

Mr Johnson said his trip was an opportunity to see the country with which the UK has an important economic and migration partnership.

He acknowledged he would be arriving ahead of many of the people his government planned to send there; the first such flight was halted last week by the European Court of Human Rights.

The Commonwealth summit is expected to focus on boosting trade and co-operation, improving food security, tackling climate change and improving education for women and girls.