Keir Starmer is facing pressure from Labour backbenchers and human rights groups as he prepares for bilateral talks with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Labour leader is under scrutiny after Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested that the UK could adopt Italy’s approach to handling asylum seekers, which includes sending applicants to third countries such as Albania.
This has sparked outrage within his party, with some members questioning the wisdom of aligning with what they describe as a “neo-fascist government.”
One Labour backbencher was particularly vocal, asking why a Labour administration would consider “learning lessons” from such a regime. The Refugee Council and Amnesty International have echoed these concerns, calling on Starmer to steer clear of “gimmicks” similar to the previous government’s failed Rwanda plan.
Tension Rises Over Italy’s Approach
Meloni’s government has reduced migrant arrivals by nearly two-thirds over the past year, with the number of people arriving in small boats across the Mediterranean dropping from 118,000 to 44,500.
Much of this success has been attributed to deals with North African nations like Tunisia and Libya, aimed at improving border security and preventing boats from departing in the first place.
This fall, Meloni’s administration plans to take things further by opening a processing center in Albania, where asylum seekers intercepted at sea by Italian rescue ships will be sent while their applications are processed.
While some see this as an effective strategy to curb migration, others, including Labour MP Kim Johnson, view it as deeply problematic.
Johnson, who represents Liverpool Riverside, voiced her concerns, describing Meloni’s Albanian migration policies as a “blueprint for abuse.”
She questioned the appropriateness of Starmer’s willingness to learn from such a government, especially in light of the recent anti-refugee riots and far-right violence that swept the UK over the summer.
“Have we learned nothing from the Tories’ failures?” she asked.
“Draconian deportation measures don’t deter desperate people from seeking asylum. Instead, they often lead to severe human rights violations. Our focus should be on fixing the flaws in our own asylum system, not copying those of a far-right government.”
Kim Johnson
Backbenchers Voice Discontent
Another Labour MP expressed dismay at the idea of Starmer “cozying up to Meloni,” stating that her policies prioritize the dehumanization of people fleeing war and persecution. This sentiment reflects growing discomfort within the party over the direction of Starmer’s immigration agenda.
Despite the backlash, Lammy defended the discussions, explaining that the talks would focus on Meloni’s efforts to tackle irregular migration, especially through cooperation with Albania.
According to Lammy, Italy’s arrangements with Albania have significantly reduced migrant numbers across key routes, including the Channel and the Mediterranean.
However, conflicting messages within the government have raised further questions. A Home Office source clarified that while discussions are ongoing, the idea of processing asylum seekers in a third country such as Albania is not current UK policy.
Moreover, Italy has yet to fully implement its own plan, which aims to process 3,000 asylum seekers in Albania but has not yet resulted in significant reductions in irregular migration.
Amnesty Raises Concerns
Amnesty International and other NGOs have strongly criticized the UK’s consideration of such deals, arguing that outsourcing asylum responsibilities to other countries, including Albania and Rwanda, is a shirking of moral obligations.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, the director of Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights division, stated, “There should be no question of the UK doing deals to offload its responsibilities on to other countries.”
As Starmer prepares for his meeting with Meloni, he faces a delicate balancing act: navigating the practicalities of immigration control while appeasing growing unrest within his party.
Whether or not Labour adopts aspects of Italy’s immigration model could have lasting implications, not just for the party but for the thousands of vulnerable people seeking refuge on UK shores.
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