Starmer leans on Albania to help stem migrants flow as crossings top 12,000

SIR KEIR Starmer will try to revive his attempts to crack down on illegal migration today as small boat crossings continue to surge.

- From Martyn Brown

The Prime Minister is hoping to beef up efforts with Albania to tackle people smuggling gangs during a visit to the country. Sir Keir and his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama are expected to agree measures to clamp down on the vile trade.

But his visit comes in the week that the number of people crossing the Channel passed 12,000 for the year.

Labour was elected on a manifesto promise to “smash the gangs” smuggling people into the UK in small boats. But 12,699 people have made the journey so far this year, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.

Downing Street said the number of Albanians making the trip had fallen by 95% in the past three years, while those returned to the country had doubled between 2022 and 2024 following increased co-operation between the two nations.

Sir Keir said: “Global challenges need shared solutions, and the work the UK and Albania are doing together is delivering security for working people in both countries.

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