Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to send refused asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in third countries, but the proposal faced immediate setbacks as Albania, a key potential partner, ruled out participation. Speaking during a visit to Tirana, Starmer confirmed the UK is seeking to detain individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected in foreign centres once all legal avenues are exhausted.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama used a joint press conference to reject the idea, stating his country is already committed to a similar arrangement with Italy. 'We have been asked by several countries if we were open to it and we said no, because we are loyal to the marriage with Italy,' Rama said. The Times had reported Albania was a preferred UK option, but Downing Street later acknowledged it knew beforehand of Albania's stance.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the trip as 'an embarrassment', questioning its purpose given Rama's remarks. Starmer told GB News that formal negotiations with potential host countries have begun, though he declined to name them. The return hubs are intended for failed asylum seekers who use stalling tactics, such as losing documents or starting families, to frustrate deportation.
Downing Street confirmed the plan aims to reduce costs, with the PM's spokesperson stating that failed asylum seekers are 'costing millions of taxpayers'. The approach mirrors EU policy, which approved return hubs in March, and the Netherlands is in talks with Uganda. The UN refugee agency has endorsed the concept, despite criticism from the Refugee Council, whose chief executive Enver Solomon warned it 'causes fear and panic'.
The announcement comes as Channel crossings surpass 12,000 for the year, putting 2025 on track for a record. Starmer's spokesperson defended the Albania visit, saying it was 'entirely relevant' to tackling illegal migration.
