Inside Labour plot to send migrants to European country - after whinging about Rwanda

The Prime Minister has opened the door to sending migrants to Albania instead of Rwanda.

Sir Keir Starmer was fiercely critical of the Rwanda Scheme - which was central to the Conservatives' plan to stop small boats crossing the Channel.

Despite Starmer scrapping the scheme within hours of taking office the Prime Minister is instead looking to Italy’s asylum processing deal with Albania in a bid to tackle migrants boats crossing the English channel.

This has led to many questioning why Labour sees offshore asylum processing as an option at all, having been so critical of the Rwanda scheme.

Yvette Cooper has insisted that the Italian policy is “very, very different” because the processing of asylum claims will take place under Italy’s jurisdiction in Albania and successful applicants will be received by Italy.

Ahead of his trip to Rome earlier this month the PM restated his “interest” in examining Italy’s new deal to send asylum seekers to Albania for processing.

Pressed on whether he would consider a similar scheme to Rome's deal with Albania, Sir Keir said: "Let's see. It's early days. I'm interested in how that works, I think everybody else is. It's very, very early days."

Arrivals in Italy have fallen by 62 per cent after Ms Meloni launched a crackdown on migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

She has struck deals with Libya and Tunisia to stop boats leaving northern Africa and controversially banned charity ships from picking up asylum seekers from more than one boat at a time.

In a key difference with the Rwanda plan, those that succeed will come to Italy as refugees. Those whose applications are rejected will be detained in Albania until they can be returned to their home countries.

Government sources insist there is no immediate move towards the UK’s own new offshore deal and say there have been no conversations with Albania.

Despite no work currently going on in “exploring” it, Government sources say they “haven’t ruled it out as an option”.

Starmer is understood to be focused on three tests for the Italy-Albania scheme, according to the I.

The first test is whether such a scheme can be applied at the necessary scale to have any effect on Channel crossings. The Italian government’s goal is to process up to 36,000 applications a year in Albania – more than the 29,500 people who arrived in Britain by small boat in 2023.

The second test is on cost-effectiveness, which became a significant issue for the Rwanda scheme through both direct spending, consequent asylum processing delays, and legal battles.

Sir Keir's third test for the Italy-Albania deal is whether it complies with international law.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNCHR), has already issued a warning, requesting information from the Italian government on the scheme.

The statement read: “The UNHCR will monitor the implementation of the Italy-Albania Protocol, to help ensure it is implemented in a manner that safeguards the rights and dignity of those subject to it.”

More than 24,000 migrants have reached Britain on small boats so far this year whilst figures show that a record number of migrants living in Britain are not working, costing the tax payer an estimated £8 billion a year.

Official figures show 1,689,000 non-UK nationals are either unemployed or classed as economically inactive because they are not looking for a job.

For the second quarter of 2024 the figure surpasses the previous high of 1,676,000 recorded at the start of the year, according to analysis of Office for National Statistics data.

The Centre for Migration Control put the cost to taxpayers at £8.5 billion a year.

The analysis covers people aged between 16 and 64 who were born overseas and have the right to live in the UK, but excludes students and asylum seekers.