Albania rejects 'return hubs' plan for refused UK asylum seekers

Plans to send refused asylum seekers to "return hubs" in third countries have been announced by Keir Starmer on a trip to Albania during which the Balkan country ruled out participating in the scheme.

- Aletha Adu Rajeev Syal Peter Walker

The prime minister flew to Tirana to confirm the UK was seeking to send people whose asylum claims had been turned down to foreign detention centres once they had exhausted all avenues of appeal.

The proposals risked being overshadowed by remarks from the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama, who used a joint press conference with Starmer to highlight his country's refusal to engage in such negotiations while it was trying to set up a similar scheme with Italy.

On Wednesday night, the Times reported that Albania was one of Britain's preferred options for a hub.

The Conservatives claimed that Starmer's trip and policy announcement had not gone to plan and had been exposed by Rama's remarks.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: "This trip is an embarrassment. Starmer jetted off and now the Albanian prime minister has made clear that there will be no UK return hubs in Albania. So, what was the point of this entire visit?"

British officials had hoped to establish return hubs in the western Balkans, with Albania seen as a potential partner. Starmer told GB News that officials had begun negotiations with possible host countries but he refused to reveal which ones.