LONDON: The British government is in talks with unspecified third countries about deals to send them migrants who have been refused the right to stay in Britain and run out of legal options to avoid deportation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to show he can control migration. On Thursday Starmer confirmed he was talking to "a number of countries" about "return hubs" where Britain could send those who have no legal right to remain in the country and have exhausted all avenues of appeal.
Starmer had dismissed as a gimmick and scrapped immediately after winning power at an election in July. Starmer was speaking during a visit to Albania, where he announced work to tackle people-trafficking gangs who help migrants travel to Britain.
At a press conference with Starmer, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said a similar returns model agreed between Italy and Albania needed to be fully tested. So far the scheme has faced numerous judicial hurdles. Rama said that while other countries may replicate such deals, he was not willing for Albania to do so for Britain. — Reuters
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