Keir Starmer’s trip to Italy to speak with Giorgia Meloni about Britain’s migrant crisis is a “complete gimmick”, according to political commentator Robert Bates.
The Prime Minister is in Rome to meet his Italian counterpart, who has presided over a new approach to border control.
Her migrant deal with Albania has contributed to a 60 per cent drop in arrivals by sea over the past year, and Meloni said the UK has shown “great interest” in Italy’s methods.
But according to Bates, Starmer has little interest in adopting plans which some have raised humanitarian concerns about.
Robert Bates accused Starmer of a 'complete gimmick'
PA / GB NEWS
“This whole trip is a complete gimmick, it is done purely for the optics of Starmer being seen to do something about the migrant crisis his country is presiding over.
“The problem Britain faces isn’t the Italian border being usurped by those crossing from Tunisia, it’s those who have entered Europe and are coming to the UK.
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Giorgia Meloni said the UK showed great interest in their agreement with Albania
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“Let’s not forget, the central Mediterranean route where Italy has seen a big reduction is only a tiny proportion of those coming into Europe.
“Ultimately, we can throw as much as we want at the Italians and give as much money as we want to Tunisia but the flow will continue.
“Labour seem to be completely oblivious to this fact. They have removed any semblance of a deterrent and are laying out a red carpet to those entering our country.”
Speaking about discussions with the UK about the Albanian deal, Meloni said: “The UK Government has shown great interest in this agreement.”
Migrant crisis: Small boat crossings have continued in their thousands since Starmer took power
GETTYThe deal was brokered with Albania and will see irregular migrants who have entered Italy processed in the Balkan nation, a scheme which has been compared to the Rwanda plan scrapped by Starmer’s Government.
Starmer said Italy’s reduction in unauthorised migrant numbers was “more likely attributable to the work that the prime minister (Meloni) has done upstream”.
He added: “I have always made the argument that preventing people leaving their country in the first place is far better than trying to deal with those that have arrived in any of our countries. I was very interested in that.
“In a sense, today was a return – if you like – to British pragmatism.”
The Italian government has faced criticism from humanitarian groups about its deals with Albania, but Meloni told reporters in Rome: “I don’t know what human rights violations you’re referring to, to be totally frank.
“This accusation, I think it’s completely groundless.”