What's happened
Keir Starmer is in Italy to discuss migration strategies with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Amid rising tensions over Labour's approach to asylum policies, Starmer aims to learn from Italy's recent successes in reducing boat crossings. The visit follows tragic incidents in the Channel, raising urgent questions about the UK’s immigration strategy.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that Starmer's visit is aimed at understanding how Meloni's government has reduced illegal crossings by nearly two-thirds, emphasizing financial deals with North African countries (Peter Walker, The Guardian). Meanwhile, BBC News highlights the appointment of Martin Hewitt to lead the new Border Security Command, indicating a serious approach to tackling smuggling gangs (BBC News). However, criticism from Labour backbenchers and NGOs persists, with concerns about aligning with a 'neo-fascist' government (The Guardian). The Mirror notes that Labour's focus has shifted from the controversial Rwanda plan to a more collaborative approach with Italy, which has seen significant reductions in migrant arrivals (The Mirror).
How we got here
The UK government has faced criticism over its handling of illegal migration, particularly following the scrapping of the Rwanda deportation scheme. Starmer's Labour government is now exploring alternative strategies, including potential offshore processing in Albania, inspired by Italy's recent policies.
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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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