Bumbling Bridget Phillipson in denial after Keir Starmer mocked over Albania journey | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was left floundering when she was requested stay on-air whether or not Keir Starmer must be embarrassed by Albania’s refusal to accommodate failed UK asylum seekers. The Prime Minister was on a visit to the Balkan state this week when his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama publicly dominated out internet hosting so known as “return hubs” – leaving many with the impression that Sir Keir’s plan to woo the chief had gone badly fallacious.

When requested whether or not she thought the rebuttal was “a bit embarrassing” on Nick Ferrari’s LBC present, Ms Phillipson insisted that Albania had by no means been among the many international locations shortlisted by Labour for processing websites, and mentioned the go to had been pre-planned for different causes.

She mentioned: “There was never any intention to seek a return hub with Albania. We know that they have got an exclusive arrangement with Italy. He was due to be there already to have conversations with Albania about how we tackle organised crime – they’re a key partner in doing this. He’s also there … for the European Political Community meeting.”

“We are in discussion with a number of [other] countries around return hubs,” the Education Secretary added.

Mr Rama advised journalists at a press convention that he had been “asked by several countries” if Albania could be open to a “return hub” scheme, however had turned them down out of loyalty to his nation’s migrant scheme with Italy.

His public response to hypothesis that UK asylum seekers might be shipped to the southern European state got here simply hours after Mr Starmer introduced that the federal government had begun talks with unnamed international locations about housing migrants whereas they await deportation.

Downing Street additionally confirmed that Albania had not been on the checklist of nations into consideration, including that the subject was “never planned as part of discussions” with the Albanian chief.

The UK Prime Minister’s spokesperson mentioned the “return hub” scheme would apply to asylum seekers “who have exhausted all legal routes to remain in the UK but are attempting to stall, using various tactics”.

Labour mentioned the brand new measures differed from the Conservatives’ Rwanda coverage as a result of it could apply to individuals who had already misplaced their appeals, slightly than new arrivals.