What's happened
During a recent visit to Italy, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed interest in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's asylum processing scheme in Albania. This comes amid rising concerns over illegal immigration in the UK, as Italy reports a significant drop in boat arrivals due to its controversial approach.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent highlights Starmer's cautious interest in Italy's scheme, noting concerns from human rights organizations like Amnesty International, which argues that the UK should not offload its refugee responsibilities. In contrast, BBC News reports that Starmer is focused on upstream solutions to prevent illegal crossings, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach. The Telegraph discusses the limitations of Italy's model, particularly regarding the treatment of asylum seekers in Albania, while Sky News underscores the tragic context of recent Channel crossings, which may influence public perception of immigration policies.
How we got here
Keir Starmer's discussions with Giorgia Meloni follow Italy's implementation of a deal to process asylum seekers in Albania, which has reportedly led to a 60% reduction in boat crossings. The UK government is seeking solutions to its own immigration challenges.
More on these topics
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Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in the United Kingdom focused on human rights. The organization says it has more than eight million members and supporters around the world.
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Rwanda, formerly Ruanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. One of the smallest countries on the African mainland, its capital city is Kigali.