Starmer reveals plans to send refused asylum seekers to overseas return hubs
Guardian3 days
Albania Declines Starmer's Migrant Return Hub Plan Proposal
Above: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hold a joint press conference after their meeting in Tirana, Albania on May 15, 2025. Image copyright: Olsi Shehu/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Starmer’s proposed migrant return deals are both ineffective and immoral. Outsourcing responsibility for asylum seekers to poorer nations echoes the cruelty of Rwanda-style gimmicks Labour once condemned. It dehumanises people fleeing hardship and treats migration as a problem to be exported, not a humanitarian duty to uphold. Starmer's continued pandering to Farage and Reform will be his ultimate downfall.
Right narrative
Starmer's Albanian debacle exposes the hollowness at the heart of his immigration strategy. He scrapped Rwanda with moral fanfare, only to chase a weaker, vaguer scheme under a new name. His so-called “return hubs” lack teeth, credibility, or partners following Albania's humiliating rebuff. It’s posturing without results, proving he has neither the conviction nor the competence to control British borders.
Pro-government narrative
Starmer’s proactive approach to illegal migration is delivering results. His Albania visit strengthens vital partnerships and expands joint enforcement, successfully cutting small boat crossings. Meanwhile, his return hub proposal is a fair, firm solution: ensuring swift, lawful removals while freeing up resources for supporting genuine refugees and protecting British borders.