Starmer’s ‘laughable’ plan to send migrants to Kosovo savaged as illegal crossings soar.uk
Chris Philp also described the Prime Minister’s recent trip to Albania as “humiliating”.
Sir Keir Starmer and Albanian PM Edi Rama – who rejected the idea of return hubs in his country (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer‘s proposal to establish “return hubs” in countries like Kosovo for failed asylum seekers has come under intense criticism, with shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelling the plan as “laughable” amid a significant surge in illegal Channel crossings. The initiative aims to relocate individuals whose asylum applications have been rejected in the UK to third countries, such as Kosovo, for processing and eventual deportation.
The approach is intended to serve as a deterrent to illegal migration and to alleviate pressure on the UK’s asylum system. However, the plan has been met with skepticism and opposition from various quarters. Referring to the aborted Rwanda scheme, Mr Philp criticised the proposal, saying: “Keir Starmer laughably claimed he would smash the gangs, but all he’s done is scrap our deterrent before it started – a deterrent the National Crime Agency labelled as critical.”
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Vjosa Osmani (Image: Getty)
He added: “As a result, since Labour took power over 37,000 illegal migrants have crossed the channel and 2025 so far has been the worst on record for illegal immigrants.”
He further pointed out that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama had made it clear there would be no UK return hubs in Albania during the PM’s recent visit to the Balkan country.
He explained: “The Prime Minister’s attempt to get Albania to act as a return hub was humiliatingly dismissed by the Albanian Prime Minister.
“Returns hubs will anyway not work as a deterrent because only illegal immigrants whose asylum claims fail get removed. The vast majority who illegally cross the channel have their asylum claims accepted, so would never be removed under the returns hub plan.
“Labour has only removed 5% of illegal immigrants crossing the channel since the election – no wonder illegal immigrants are flooding in under this failing Government.”
Migrants crossing the English Channel in a flimsy dinghy (Image: Getty)
The plan’s viability has also been questioned due to the lack of formal agreements with potential host countries Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani commenting: “There’s been no formal talks with the UK on this issue. “It hasn’t been raised so far. We would be open to discussing it, however, I can’t say more than that because I don’t know the details.”
The proposal comes at a time when illegal Channel crossings have reached record levels. According to the BBC, the number of people crossing the Channel has passed 12,000 since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year.
In response to recent criticism, Sir Keir defended the initiative, stating: “We are in talks with a number of countries about return hubs. I see them as a really important innovation.”
He emphasised that the return hubs would focus on individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues in the UK and are currently in the country, costing millions of taxpayers.
Despite the Government’s intentions, experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness and legality of the proposed return hubs.
Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned: “Threatening to detain people in countries they’ve never set foot in causes fear and panic, leading to low rates of compliance. The government’s approach to returns must be based on evidence if it’s going to work.”
The Government’s approach contrasts with the previous Conservative administration’s Rwanda scheme, which involved sending migrants to have their asylum claims processed in the African country.
Sir Keir’s plan focuses on relocating failed asylum seekers to third countries for processing and eventual deportation, aiming to be more legally and ethically robust.
As the debate continues, the effectiveness of the proposed return hubs remains uncertain.
With illegal Channel crossings on the rise and formal agreements with potential host countries yet to be secured, the Government’s plan faces significant challenges in its implementation.
