Keir Starmer announces plan to send asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in other countries

Keir Starmer said the UK is in talks to send failed asylum seekers to "return hubs" in other countries

During a major press conference in , the Prime Minister announced plans to step up efforts to break the crime web fuelling illegal migration across the Western Balkans.

He confirmed discussions were ongoing about sending people who have been through the UK asylum system to be processed elsewhere. It could mean asylum seekers are deported to have their claims processed if their bid to stay in the UK is unsuccessful.

He told reporters: "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."

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During an historic first official visit to the country, Mr Starmer said the UK and Albania were beginning "the next chapter of our countries' strong relationship" as he spoke alongside his Albanian counterpart. He said his visit provided an "opportunity to see firsthand how our two countries are working together on some of the biggest challenges that we face", including migration.

He said the UK has agreed a "joint statement of intent" on defence industry co-operation with Albania. The PM said the countries would "work together on the manufacture and sale of military vehicles, so another important step forward for our two countries".

Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister, earlier hit out at how Albanians had been "stigmatised" in the UK. Speaking via a translator, he claimed citizens of the Balkan nation living in Britain had contributed in a "dignified way" but had been negatively represented "as if they were the problem of the UK" by "several media sources".

It comes as the PM ramps up efforts to drive down legal and illegal , days after coming under fire for warning the UK risks becoming an "island of strangers".

Speaking before the press conference, the PM insisted he is "determined that we will retake control" of the UK's borders, during a visit to Albania. Mr Starmer said: "It is totally unacceptable that anybody is getting on a small boat and crossing the Channel to the .

"The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders. That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade."

He added: "What we have done in our joint work with Albania is shown that by working with other countries, this morning we saw law enforcement from Albania alongside law enforcement from the UK, driven down those numbers.

"I want to see more of that. We are absolutely determined that we are going to clear up the mess that we have been left and make sure that we get the control we need of our borders."

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