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Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to give some £4 million to the far-right Italian government to tackle irregular migration.
The funding for the initiative, called the Rome Process, comes following the meeting of the two leaders.
Sir Keir met with his Italian counterpart in Rome today to discuss plans to tackle illegal migration.
The populist Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, has seen a 60 per cent drop in illegal migration in the past year and recently signed a controversial deal with Albania.
Sir Keir said he is “very interested” in Italy’s policies leading to “dramatic reductions” in irregular migration.
“You’ve made remarkable progress working with countries across migration routes as equals, to address the drivers of migration at source and tackle gangs,” Sir Keir told the press conference.
Ms Meloni added she and Sir Keir had signed a joint communique including “very tangible, important points, and is evidence of the deep relation between our two countries.”
Sir Keir has signalled he is open to pursuing an arrangement similar to Italy’s migration deal with Albania, whereby asylum seekers will be held in the Balkan state while their claims are processed.
Key Points
- UK has shown ‘great interest' in Italy-Albania deal, Italian PM Meloni says
- Starmer praises Italy’s migrant policies
- Starmer meets Italian business leaders in Rome
- Starmer under fresh attack for ‘unbelievably foolish’ winter fuel payment cuts
Full report: Starmer reported to Parliament’s standards watchdog over wife’s clothes bought by donor
Starmer reported to standards watchdog over wife’s clothes bought by donor
PM accused of breaking the rules over clothing for his wife Lady Victoria Starmer from Lord Alli, who has given more than £500,000 to Labour over the last two decades
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 16:59 1726501264Lib Dem deputy leader talks about being told she had ‘just four days to live’
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has said she was once told she had “just four days left to live”, as she shared her experiences of Crohn’s disease.
Addressing the party’s autumn conference in Brighton on Monday, Ms Cooper told delegates that “12 years ago” she was “rushed to hospital” and then later “sobbed” as she faced the prospect of having to give up work.
“A few weeks in, I was told that without major surgery I had just four days left to live. My weight had dropped to around seven stone, my eyesight was failing,” she told delegates.
Recalling her experiences, she said that her arms had gone “black and blue” and she was “fed only through a feeding tube”.
“But it wasn’t the prospect of major surgery that upset me, it was what was said next,” Ms Cooper said.
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 16:41 1726500064Exclusive: Lib Dem councillor says she was ‘diagnosed with PTSD over Brexit’
My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:
‘I was diagnosed with PTSD over Brexit,’ Lib Dem councillor says
Exclusive: ‘I have not been in Sudan fighting in a war, but Brexit has had a profound impact on me,’ Antonia Harrison told The Independent
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 16:21 1726498744Lib Dems put God on trial in court case of deselected Christian candidate
Lib Dems put God on trial in court case of deselected Christian candidate
A deselected Christian candidate who is suing the Lib Dems has been told by the party that he must prove the truth of his faith in court
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 15:59 1726497544Starmer dodges question on allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow Missiles on Russian targets
Sir Keir Starmer has said Nato needs to “put Ukraine in the best possible position”, when asked about the UK potentially lifting restrictions on Storm Shadow missiles to allow them to be used inside Russian territory.
“I think it is important for us to start from the fundamental position, which is that this is an illegal war started by Russia and, as a result, Ukraine has the right to self defence, and we have all – Italy, the UK and other allies, Nato allies in particular – been standing with Ukraine,” he told reporters in Rome.
He added: “It’s a war against the values of democracy, of freedom and the rule of law, which apply to all of us in our respective countries, but across all of the allies. That is why we’ve supplied capability, we’ve supplied training, we’ve supplied money, and there are further commitments to be made recently in relation to all of those.
“I think it’s very important as a matter of principle that we put Ukraine in the best possible position, and that’s what we’ve been discussing. We’ve had the opportunity today to touch on that.
“I had the opportunity in recent days to touch on that. I’m not going to go into individual capabilities. You wouldn’t expect me to do that, but the principle framework, I think, is absolutely right, and we’ll continue to have our discussions in relation to it.”
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 15:39 1726496344Explained: How has Italy reduced small boat arrivals by more than 60% in a year and what is the Albania scheme?
How Italy has reduced small boat arrivals and what is the Albania scheme?
Sir Keir Starmer says he is looking to Italy for answers in how to reduce Channel crossings
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 15:19 1726495144Starmer says 3,000 people have been returned to their country of origin under Labour government
The Prime Minister claimed his Government has overseen “the single biggest flight that has ever taken off returning people to their country of origin”.
Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Rome: “Of course, it’s a problem when we’ve got people arriving into the UK who are arriving unlawfully across the channel or any other route, and, of course, every government has the responsibility of making sure our borders are secure.
“Rather than a gimmick, which, as you know, cost £700 million to persuade four volunteers to go to Rwanda, we have gone down the road of pragmatism.
“Already we have returned over 3,000 people by flights. So, the flights actually did get off under this Government, not to Rwanda, but back to countries of origin, carrying with them 3,000 people who shouldn’t be here, including the single biggest flight that has ever taken off, returning people to their country of origin.
“That’s why we’re working so intently on the Border Security Command, which is intended to take down the gangs that are running the vile trade in the first place.”
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 14:59 1726493922Voices: Giorgia Meloni’s Albania migrant deal won’t work here
Giorgia Meloni’s Albania migrant deal won’t work here
Keir Starmer may have had his head turned by his right-wing Italian counterpart’s success in reducing ‘irregular’ crossings from north Africa with third-country processing – but there are good reasons why he is on a hiding to nothing
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 14:38 1726492804Pictured: Victoria Starmer’s designer wardrobe amid claims donor paid for £5,000 worth of her clothes
Government returns to ‘British pragmatism’ on migration, Starmer says
Sir Keir signalled he was more interested in Italy’s work preventing migrants from reaching the country than its Albania deal, as he claimed his Government had returned to “British pragmatism” on migration.
The Prime Minister said Italy’s reduction in unauthorised migrant numbers was “more likely attributable to the work that the prime minister (Giorgia Meloni) has done upstream”.
He added: “I have always made the argument that preventing people leaving their country in the first place is far better than trying to deal with those that have arrived in any of our countries. I was very interested in that.
“In a sense, today was a return – if you like – to British pragmatism.
“We are pragmatists first and foremost. When we see a challenge we discuss with our friends and allies the different approaches that are being taken, look at what works, and that is the approach we have taken today, and it has been a very productive day.”
Jabed Ahmed16 September 2024 14:14 Newer1 / 5OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
