Keir Starmer left red-faced as ‘return hub’ plan snubbed by Albania | UK | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer was left red-faced throughout a go to to Albania after Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly dominated out internet hosting so-called “return hubs” for failed UK asylum seekers in an ungainly public snub. The Labour chief introduced plans to discover third-country processing websites for migrants who had exhausted all authorized routes to stay in Britain — however Albania swiftly confirmed it wished no half within the proposal.

Speaking at a press convention in Tirana, Mr Rama mentioned: “We have been asked by several countries if we were open to it, and we said no, because we are loyal to the marriage with Italy and the rest is just love.” The blunt rejection got here simply hours after Sir Keir used an interview with GB News to substantiate that the Government had begun talks with unnamed international locations about housing migrants awaiting deportation. He mentioned: “What now we want to do and are having discussions of, talks of, is return hubs, which is where someone has been through the system in the UK, they need to be returned and we have to make sure they’re returned effectively and we’ll do that, if we can, through return hubs.”

Downing Street was compelled to make clear that Albania had by no means been on the listing of nations into consideration and that the topic was “never planned as part of discussions” with Mr Rama.

Sir Keir’s spokesman claimed the thought of return hubs was not aimed toward new arrivals however failed asylum seekers making an attempt to delay deportation utilizing “tactics” akin to destroying paperwork or beginning a household.

He mentioned: “This will basically apply to people who have exhausted all legal routes to remain in the UK but are attempting to stall, using various tactics. It will ensure that they don’t have the chance to make their removal harder… as we have seen from cases in the past.”

The Government believes eradicating such people to 3rd international locations will scale back their capacity to frustrate the deportation course of — and lower prices to the taxpayer.

Officials mentioned talks would proceed with different governments over the approaching months, however declined to call any of the international locations being thought-about.

Italy already runs an analogous scheme with Albania, which sends failed asylum seekers to the nation whereas their deportation is finalised. That deal has confronted authorized challenges and delays.

Sir Keir insisted his plan was totally different from the Conservatives’ Rwanda coverage as a result of it might solely apply to individuals who had already been by the system and misplaced their appeals.

He admitted the measure was “not a silver bullet” however mentioned it might assist sort out the people-smuggling commerce and cease additional Channel crossings.

“This will allow us to bear down on this vile trade and make sure that we stop those people crossing the Channel,” he mentioned.

The journey got here the identical week that the variety of small boat arrivals in 2025 handed 12,000 — a determine that places this yr on observe to surpass earlier data.

While in Tirana, Sir Keir can be anticipated to announce nearer cooperation with Albanian authorities on organised crime and efforts to stop deported people from returning to the UK — described by officers because the “revolving door problem”.

Sir Keir instructed reporters his go to must be seen as “a statement of intent as to the regard that I hold Albania,” and disregarded ideas that an apology was wanted over historic UK rhetoric concentrating on Albanian migrants.

But the go to was swiftly branded an “embarrassment” by Conservative shadow house secretary Chris Philp, who mentioned: “Starmer jetted off and now the Albanian prime minister has made clear that there will be no UK return hubs in Albania.

“So, what was the point of this entire visit?

“Under the Conservatives, we already struck a real returns deal and a law enforcement deal with Albania — and they worked. Small boat arrivals from Albania dropped by over 90%. Now Labour are dishonestly insinuating it’s down to them.”

He added: “The Government is scrambling to stitch together a weak imitation of our Rwanda plan.”