What's happened
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in Rome to discuss migration policies. Starmer praised Meloni's success in reducing irregular migration to Italy, aiming to apply similar strategies in the UK. This meeting follows a tragic weekend where eight migrants died attempting to cross the English Channel.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Andrew McDonald from Politico, Starmer's visit aimed to learn from Meloni's 'remarkable progress' in migration management, highlighting a pragmatic approach to a pressing issue. Conversely, the South China Morning Post noted the tragic deaths of migrants, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Labour MPs expressed concern over Starmer's engagement with Meloni, with Kim Johnson describing it as 'disturbing' and questioning the effectiveness of stricter policies. This contrast illustrates the tension within Labour regarding immigration strategies and the potential implications for Starmer's leadership.
How we got here
Starmer's government faces increasing pressure to address irregular migration, with over 23,000 crossings reported this year. His visit to Meloni comes as Labour seeks effective solutions amid rising political competition from right-wing parties.
More on these topics
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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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Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.
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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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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.