Sir Keir Starmer Advocates for Pragmatism Over Gimmicks in Tackling Small Boat Crisis During Italy Visit

Sir Keir Starmer advocates for 'pragmatism' regarding small boat issues, suggesting potential consideration of Albania as hinted by the government. While Italy's strategy to handle migrant processing in Albania has faced backlash from human rights advocates, Sir Keir notes that other initiatives by the Albanian government have effectively decreased the number of boat crossings.

Political correspondent @NifS

Monday, September 16, 2024, 3:

The prime minister has declared that the UK has transitioned "from a government of gimmicks to a government of pragmatism," as he addresses the issue of small boats.

Sir Keir Starmer has traveled to Rome for discussions with Italian leader Giorgia Meloni on various topics, such as irregular migration and her contentious proposal to process asylum seekers in Albania.

Live Politics: Starmer Visits Italy to Study Significant Asylum Reductions

Before their meeting, he mentioned that her initiatives had resulted in a "significant decrease" in the number of boats arriving—about 60%—and he was "eager to learn" about how she achieved this.

When pressed about whether he planned to adopt a similar approach to the controversial Albania program, which has alarmed human rights activists, Sir Keir emphasized that his priority remains on "dismantling the criminal networks behind this despicable business".

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"He mentioned that the plan for Albania is still in the preliminary stages and not operational, so the results are still unknown," he stated.

"We talked about the idea and also covered how to prevent it, especially since, as I mentioned, the figures have substantially decreased. This drop, obviously, isn't due to the Albania program since it hasn't commenced yet."

"In my opinion, that can be primarily credited to the efforts of the prime minister who has been proactive… engaging with the nations that are the origin of these migrant flows."

He commented, "I've consistently maintained that it's much more effective to stop individuals from leaving their homeland than it is to manage those who have already reached our nations. That's why I found it particularly intriguing.

"Today marked a resurgence of British pragmatism. As pragmatists, our initial response to any obstacle involves consulting with our friends and allies, examining various strategies in action, and adopting the most effective ones. This approach has led to a highly fruitful day."

Some have drawn parallels between the Albania initiative and the former Conservative government's deportation plan to Rwanda, which was quickly discontinued by the Labour administration shortly after they assumed power.

However, a key distinction is that individuals who are granted asylum following their processing in Albania would subsequently be permitted to reside in Italy, rather than staying in the third country.

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Referencing the strategies of the previous administration, the prime minister stated, "We've transitioned from a government of quick fixes to a government of practical solutions. This shift allows me to concentrate fully on what I believe to be the most effective deterrent and solution to illegal migration: dismantling the criminal networks responsible for this despicable business."

"Clearly, there are issues with individuals entering the UK illegally, whether via the Channel or other pathways. It's incumbent upon every administration to ensure the nation's borders are properly safeguarded."

"Instead of a tactic that, as you are aware, spent £700m to convince four volunteers to travel to Rwanda, we have opted for a more pragmatic approach."

Sir Keir announced that his administration would prioritize the efforts of the newly established Border Security Command, which has recently appointed ex-chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, Martin Hewitt, as its leader. Additionally, the government will concentrate on repatriating individuals who do not have the right to remain in the UK and on initiating preventive measures in the nations from which migrants originate.

"He emphasized, "This revolves around pragmatic politics. The British excel in being pragmatic. Historically, we're recognized for our ability to identify issues, dive in, and determine the most efficient solution."

"From my perspective, the previous administration implemented a costly scheme that was ultimately ineffective, and we have no interest in continuing down that path."

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Sir Keir's recent journey marks another stop in his European tour aimed at revitalizing connections with the EU following Brexit, which he describes as the dawn of a "new era".

This follows the recent arrival of 1,000 asylum seekers in the UK, who reached the country over the weekend by navigating perilous waters. Tragically, eight individuals lost their lives on Saturday night when their vessel struck rocks in the Channel near the French coast.

Advocates have described the fatalities as a "preventable disaster," and Amnesty International UK has reiterated its plea for the government to establish additional safe and legal pathways for asylum seekers to enter the UK.

A representative of the organization stated: "Efforts should be made by the government to mend the UK's damaged standing concerning refugee matters by fixing an asylum system that has been intentionally undermined by various former home secretaries over the years."

Previously, a spokesperson from Number 10 stated that there were no intentions to create additional legal pathways for asylum into the UK.

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