A Labour minister has been grilled over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to accept tens of thousands of pounds in gifts and hospitality, amid a row over his late declaration of a donation by a Labour peer to pay for dresses for his wife Victoria.
Sir Keir was facing questions over the £5,000 donation from ex-Asos chair Lord Waheed Alli which he initially failed to put on his register of interests. The PM has insisted his team had reached out for advice on what declaration should be made and that rules are being followed.
While the commissioner has decided not to investigate, Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle was repeatedly pressed by reporters on Tuesday about Sir Keir’s acceptance of gifts – totalling more than £65,000 in the nine months to May ahead of cutting the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners.
Dame Angela told Times Radio she had no opinion on Sir Keir accepting gifts and accused the host of “ranting”. However she conceded to Sky News that she was not sure whether it was “possible to have an explanation” for accepting Coldplay tickets.
Key Points
- Keir Starmer ‘will not face probe’ into late declaration of donor gifts
- ‘You’ve had your rant’: Minister stumbles over defence of Starmer
- Diane Abbott says Starmer treated her as a ‘non-person’ during race row
- Legal right to work from home ‘will boost productivity’
- UK has shown ‘great interest’ in Italy-Albania deal, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni says
- Starmer praises Italy’s migrant policies
Ed Davey reveals rejected election stunt ideas
15:20
Andy Gregory
Wing walking on a biplane was among the stunt ideas “rejected” during the Lib Dem election campaign, Sir Ed Davey has suggested.
He told conference delegates that he is “not supposed to tell you what stunt ideas were rejected - not least because they’re still trying to persuade me to do them for the next election”.
He added: “But I’ll let you into a little secret. It was only health and safety rules that stopped me putting my hand up a cow’s behind or wing walking on a biplane.”
Ed Davey sings to Abba as he arrives for conference speech
15:11
Andy Gregory
Sir Ed Davey sang along to Abba’s “Take A Chance” as he arrived on stage for his Brighton conference keynote speech.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “It’s been joyful, hasn’t it? Getting together to celebrate, and to start planning the future – having fun, but with a serious focus.
“It reminds me of our election campaign. Do you know they wanted me to wear a wetsuit today? But I said it was abseiling or nothing, so here we are, having a party after winning our largest number of MPs for over 100 years.”
Video report: Ed Davey to take aim at Tories in closing Lib Dem conference speech
15:03
Andy Gregory
Government ‘working to tackle small boats on all fronts'
14:28
Andy Gregory
Responding to the news that 10,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power, a No 10 spokesperson told reporters: “Immediate work has been taking place.
“That includes starting to process asylum cases again where people have been sat in hotels without their cases being looked at.
“The prime minister spoke yesterday about 3,000 people being returned over the course of the summer and made the comparison with the £700m spent on four voluntary returns around the Rwanda scheme.
“In addition to that we have also announced a 50 per cent uplift in NCA officers in Europol and funding for 100 additional NCA officers, and you’ve also heard the home secretary announce new surveillance technology and investment in the Border Security Command.”
They added: “This is an issue that we are tackling on all fronts.”
No 10 denies being a ‘nest of vipers'
14:07
Andy Gregory
Downing Street has denied there was a “nest of vipers” behind the scenes in Sir Keir Starmer’s administration following reports of tensions involving senior officials.
Following reports that cabinet secretary Simon Case – the country’s top civil servant – is under pressure to quit early because of anger over leaks and hostile briefings about the Downing Street operation, a No 10 spokesperson said he “remains focused on delivering” for the PM and is working closely with both Sir Keir and the cabinet.
Mr Case, who has suffered from poor health, is widely expected to leave his role in the coming months. The Guardian reported that he has been privately accused of failing to clamp down on leaks about donations from Lord Alli and of reported rows between chief of staff Sue Gray and other officials.
Put to her that Downing Street sounded like a “nest of vipers”, the spokesperson said: “I don’t recognise that. More generally, I wouldn’t usually get into those kinds of reports around staffing.
“The cabinet secretary remains focused on delivering for the prime minister and the work of government and working closely with the prime minister and cabinet.”
David Lammy says climate change is more urgent threat than terrorism or Putin
13:55
Andy Gregory
David Lammy has warned that climate change is a more urgent threat than terrorism or Vladimir Putin in a major speech in which he pledged to put the emergency at the centre of British foreign policy.
Tackling the crisis, which is “accelerating towards us”, will also boost growth in the UK, the foreign secretary said.
“The threat may not feel as urgent as a terrorist or an imperialist autocrat. But it is more fundamental. It is systemic. Pervasive. And accelerating towards us,” he warned. Mr Lammy blasted Russia’s “fascism” and “imperialism” last week on a visit to war-torn Ukraine.
He made the vow after the death toll in central Europe rose to at least 15 in the wake of a series of devastating floods.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
‘Okay, you’ve had your rant’: Minister has ‘no opinion’ on Starmer accepting gifts
13:27
Andy Gregory
Home Office minister Angela Eagle said she had no opinion on Sir Keir Starmer accepting gifts of “luxury glasses” from a Labour donor.
Pressed repeatedly on Times Radio, Ms Eagle eventually told the presenter: “Okay, you’ve had your rant”, after he suggested the PM “has a luxury glasses habit” and is taking money from pensioners while accepting gifts from donors despite his vast prime minister’s salary.
“Angela Rayner had an opinion when Boris Johnson was getting money from donors…now you've got someone who has a luxury glasses habit who's taking money from pensioners.”
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) September 17, 2024
“Okay you’ve had your rant.”
Dame @AngelaEagle avoids answering questions on the PM’s new glasses. pic.twitter.com/p8QTtCqiIW
Watch live: David Lammy announces Labour pledge for clean power by 2030
13:08
Andy Gregory
You can watch live at the link below as David Lammy announces Labour's pledge to have the UK be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030
The foreign secretary will position action on the climate and nature crisis as central to his department’s remit as he pledges the Foreign Office’s commitment to the global clean energy transition, reports Holly Patrick.
Speaking at Kew Gardens in Richmond, Mr Lammy will say Labour is “firing the starting gun” on its pledge to create a global clean power alliance that will facilitate sharing knowledge and technology to help more countries reach net-zero emissions.
Of the government’s 2030 pledge, Mr Lammy will say: “We will leverage that ambition to build an alliance committed to accelerating the clean energy transition. And today we are firing the starting gun on forming this new coalition.
“While some countries are moving ahead in this transition, others are being left behind. We need to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy across the globe in the way that this Government is doing at home.”
Labour MP defends Starmer over donor row: 'He's an Arsenal fan'
12:48
Andy Gregory
No 10 declines to be drawn over Starmer’s position on raising tuition fees
12:29
Andy Gregory
Pressed by reporters, Downing Street would not be drawn on the prime minister’s position on increasing tuition fees.
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer was against tuition fee increases, a No 10 spokesperson said: “The focus has been on ensuring that the Office for Students has greater flexibility so it can work closely with the universities on this and when it comes to fees there is an annual process for that.
“They are, as I understand, set for this year, there’s a process, but the focus is very much on working with universities, recognising they are independent and responsible for the decisions that ensure their long-term financial sustainability.
“But we think it’s right that the Office for Students has a greater remit so it can monitor that financial sustainability.”
UK ‘will see how Italy’s plan to process migrants in Albania works’, Home Office minister says
12:14
Andy Gregory
The UK will see whether Italian plans to process asylum seekers in Albania works before deciding whether to pursue a similar policy, a Home Office minister has suggested.
Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, told Times Radio: “Firstly we don’t know whether it will work yet, because it hasn’t started. Much of this has been portrayed currently as if it’s already a success but the fact is that it hasn’t started.
“We will see how it works. But what we have said is that any scheme that we deal with for offshore processing or anything else has to be workable, it has to be cost effective, and it also has to be in line with international law.”
Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, a migration specialist at the European Policy Centre think tank, told The Independent: “The deal should be seen for what it is: a costly operation that moves the processing of claims outside the Italian territory, with questionable administrative benefits ... intended to demonstrate to the Italian electorate that the government is acting on its pledge to crack down against irregular migration.
“It should also be seen as a deliberate and more concerted attempt to create a hostile environment for those arriving irregularly in Europe, at a time of growing social and political divisions and tensions.”
In the wake of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Rome, you can read more details about Italy’s migration policies here:
Starmer will not be investigated over undeclared £5,000 donation for wife’s dresses
11:58
Andy Gregory
The prime minister looks set to avoid an embarrassing investigation into a failure to declare a donation by a Labour peer to pay for dresses for his wife Victoria.
Keir Starmer was facing questions over the £5,000 donation from Lord Waheed Alli which he initially failed to put on his register of interests.
While the prime minister has insisted his team had reached out for advice on what declaration should be made and that rules are being followed, Tory chairman Andrew Griffith had asked the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg to investigate a potential breach in the rules.
But Downing Street has said that after discussions the commissioner has decided not to investigate.
Our political editor David Maddox has more in this report:
Farage insists Scotland ‘will be seeing me’ ahead of Holyrood elections
11:51
Andy Gregory
Nigel Farage is planning to join the campaign trail at the 2026 Holyrood elections, as the Reform UK leader said he would seek to build support in Scotland around its support for using oil and gas for decades to come.
Despite Scotland having never voted in a politician to the right of the Tories, and Mr Farage having been forced to take shelter from protesters in a pub during a visit to Edinburgh in 2013, he claimed that he intends to return north of the border.
He told STV News: “What was remarkable is that we fielded a full slate of candidates in Scotland. I was stunned. How did that happen, when we didn’t have much structure at all? We are now holding meetings in Scotland. The numbers coming are quite impressive.”
He added: “The economic implications of the collapse of the North Sea industry, not just for Aberdeen, but for large parts of Scotland, are huge. And I think we’re the only pragmatists, we’re saying, look – we will be using oil and gas in 2050 ... That, I think, is the basis on which we’re beginning to build support in Scotland.”
Reform is holding a Scottish conference on 2 November, which will be attended by Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, who previously said it was too “dangerous” for Mr Farage to travel to Scotland.
But Mr Farage said: “I can assure you, Scotland will be seeing me, of that there is no question at all. I think that really, from very little acorns, we’ve made a very good start … I will be in Scotland next year, thinking about planning a year ahead for the Scottish elections.”
Victoria Starmer ‘wears borrowed outfit’ at London Fashion Week show
11:19
Andy Gregory
Victoria Starmer has been pictured at a London Fashion Week show wearing an outfit borrowed from designer Edeline Lee during a row over her receiving free clothes from ex-Asos chair and Labour donor Lord Alli.
With Tory MPs calling for a probe into Sir Keir Starmer’s late declaration of gifts from the peer, dubbed by some as “frockgate”, Lady Starmer appeared in the front row of Lee’s runway show, wearing an outfit created for the designer’s spring 2025 collection, The Times reported.
Fears changes to Labour rulebook ‘could prevent Starmer opponents forcing leadership election'
11:07
Andy Gregory
Labour insiders fear that a new set of changes to the rulebook could prevent challengers to Sir Keir Starmer from forcing a leadership election, PoliticsHome reports, citing leaked documents.
The proposals – set to be reviewed by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee today, before being voted on at the party’s annual conference – would axe current rules that leadership elections should proceed if requested by a card vote at conference when Labour is in government.
While the rules currently state that “in any other circumstances an election shall only be held when a vacancy occurs”, this would be changed to state: “An election shall only be held when a vacancy occurs”.
A concerned source told PoliticsHome: “The basis for any democratic system is that there has to be a clear mechanism to trigger challenges to the leadership – under this proposal, that is not possible. This appears to be an attempt to insulate the party leadership from democratic challenges for the foreseeable future.”
Watch: Ed Davey challenged to name 72 Lib Dem MPs while on roller coaster ride
10:55
Andy Gregory
Labour denies plan to ‘push Diane Abbott out’ of party
10:44
Andy Gregory
In her interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, Diane Abbott also criticised Sir Keir Starmer for his handling of her suspension from the party, saying she had been targeted as “one of the last leading left-wingers in the Parliamentary Labour Party”.
She said: “Keir Starmer is always saying, ‘It’s the new Labour Party’ ... and how could you make it look more new than by getting rid of Diane Abbott?”
A Labour Party spokesperson denied there was a plan to “push her out” and said Sir Keir “has great respect” for her.
Diane Abbott declines to say whether she likes or respects Keir Starmer
10:22
Andy Gregory
Diane Abbott has declined to say whether she likes or respects Sir Keir Starmer.
Asked by ITV News whether she liked the PM, the veteran Labour MP said: “He’s the leader of the party, you can’t really take a view on them.”
Pressed further on whether she respects Sir Keir, Ms Abbott repeated: “Again, he’s the leader of my party. You can’t really take a view on the leader of your party.”
Diane Abbott says Starmer allies ‘tried to get rid of me like they did Corbyn'
10:19
Andy Gregory
In remarks to ITV News, Diane Abbott has claimed that allies of Sir Keir Starmer had been “determined to get rid of me in the same way they got rid of my colleague Jeremy Corbyn”.
Ms Abbott had the Labour whip suspended in April 2023 after she wrote a letter suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.
While the former shadow home secretary apologised over the comments and said the letter published in The Observer had been an “initial draft” sent by mistake, she did not regain the whip until 13 months later once Rishi Sunak had called the general election.
Asked if she regretted writing the letter, the veteran Labour MP told ITV News on Tuesday: “I think people understood what I was saying and those that didn’t understand were people that didn’t want to, and certainly the party leadership used it as an excuse to get rid of me.”
Ms Abbott said: “The investigation went on for nearly a year, and in the end, I surmised that what they were trying to do is prolong the investigation until the election was called and then parachuting a new candidate.
“So, in the run up to that, though, they tried to do a deal. Their deal was that they would restore the whip. But then that day, that afternoon, I would stand down and it wouldn’t be next week or the week after, it’d be that day. Well, I just thought that was humiliating and I said no.
“And then it was a case of who blinked first, and they blinked first.”
'They were determined to get rid of me'
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) September 17, 2024
Diane Abbott tells ITV News about her candidacy battle with Labour after she was suspended by @Keir_Starmer https://t.co/0kCkwaTycR pic.twitter.com/i9jHQk8TDF
Nicola Sturgeon ‘confident as ever’ that Scotland will become independent
09:43
Andy Gregory
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “as confident as ever” that Scotland will become independent.
Speaking ahead of the 10th anniversary of the independence referendum in 2014, Ms Sturgeon described the period around the vote as “both the best of times and the worst of times”.
Writing in the Daily Record, Ms Sturgeon said: “In all manner of things, progress can sometimes feel glacial until suddenly it is not. I believe the same will be true of Scotland’s journey to independence.
“I am as confident as ever that we will get there, and sooner than might seem likely right now. And when we do, a new phase of building a better Scotland will begin in earnest.”
Lib Dem deputy leader says her ‘instinct’ is to support assisted dying
08:54
Andy Gregory
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has said her “instinct” is to support assisted dying, provided any new laws come with safeguards to protect vulnerable people.
Speaking to Times Radio on the final day of her party’s autumn conference in Brighton, Ms Cooper said: “I spoke in a debate a few years ago where I said if there was a debate tomorrow, I don’t know how I would vote.”
She added: “I think my instinct is to support assisted dying and dignity in dying, but there’s a very, very big ‘but’ which is that I would need to be very reassured that there are safeguards in place to protect vulnerable people.
“And a lot of my indecision would come down to specific legislation, and whether I believe that the text on the page will provide that protection for vulnerable people.”
Labour MP defends Starmer over donor row: 'He's an Arsenal fan'
08:38
Andy Gregory
Starmer’s Meloni meeting ‘not an endorsement’ of all of Italy’s migration policies
08:33
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with the Italian prime minister should not be taken as an endorsement of all her migration policies, a Home Office minister has said.
Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, told Sky News: “Meeting with the Italians doesn’t mean we endorse absolutely everything every single Italian member of the government says or does.
“But we are meeting a G7 country and a fellow Nato member to see how we can co-operate across border to deal with some of these vile people smuggling gangs.
“That is the announcement I’m making about the £75m extra to beef up the border security command and that means that we can send people into Europol, extra investigators, more intelligence, we can work with our partners across Europe and in other places to try and put a stop to this vile trade.”
Diane Abbott says Keir Starmer treated her as ‘a non-person’ during race row
08:31
Andy Gregory
Diane Abbott has accused Sir Keir Starmer of treating her like a “non-person” during a race row over comments made by major Tory donor.
In March, The Guardian reported that Frank Hester had told colleagues that looking at Ms Abbott makes you “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.
The veteran Labour MP said she expected more support from the prime minister and the Labour Party, having been left feeling in danger by Frank Hester’s comments.
“One of the reasons it made me frightened is two MPs have been killed in recent years,” Ms Abbott told the BBC’s Newsnight, adding that comments such as Mr Hester’s “wind up a certain sort of nutcase and it makes you more vulnerable”.
But, despite feeling unsafe, Ms Abbott said Sir Keir “never reached out to me personally and did treat me as a non-person”.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Starmer ‘will not face probe’ into late declaration of donor gifts
08:28
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer will not face an investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over the late declaration of clothes given to his wife Victoria by Labour donor Lord Alli, Sky News reports.
The Tories had demanded a probe into gifts given to Sir Keir by the former Asos chair, after the prime minister failed to declare gits from his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli.
The Times reported that the TV mogul had bought more than £5,000 worth of high-end clothes for Lady Victoria Starmer over the past four months.
Earlier this year Lord Alli – who has given more than £500,000 to Labour over the last 20 years – was embroiled in a “cash for access” row after it was revealed he had a No 10 security pass.
Legal right to work from home will bring real economic benefits, says business secretary
08:19
Andy Gregory
Enshrining the right to work from home in law will boost productivity, Labour’s business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said, insisting that flexible working will yield “real economic benefits”.
Pledging to end the “culture of presenteeism” in Britain’s workplaces and criticising the Tory “war” on working from home as “bizarre”, Mr Reynolds told The Times that a default right of flexible working will make staff more productive and loyal.
Giving employees the right to work from home or ignore work emails in the evening will make them more “motivated and resilient”, he suggested, saying: “Good employers understand that workforce, to keep them motivated and resilient, they do need to judge people on outcomes and not a culture of presenteeism.”
Denying reports of a rift with Angela Rayner, the Labour frontbencher said he was working “very closely” with the deputy PM and said that the pledge to introduce legislation on workers’ rights within 100 days did not mean reform would be rushed through without negotiating details with employers.
Watch: Starmer ‘very worried’ about alleged Trump assassination attempt
Monday 16 September 2024 20:00
Jabed Ahmed
Full report: Starmer shows ‘great interest’ in Italy’s plans to send migrants to Albania, says Meloni
Monday 16 September 2024 19:28
Jabed Ahmed
Starmer announces almost £500 million in Italian investment into UK
Monday 16 September 2024 19:00
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer announced Italian investments into the UK worth almost £500 million during his visit to Rome.
“I’m really pleased to announce that we’ve secured two new investments,” the Prime Minister said at a press conference with Giorgia Meloni.
Leonardo will invest £435 million in 2024 to be spent at their Yeovil site and in technology development and research programmes across the UK, Downing Street said in a statement.
The defence, aerospace and security company operates eight major sites in the UK, supporting 8,000 employees.
Steel manufacturer Marcegaglia will invest £50 million in Sheffield to build a new clean steel electric arc furnace, creating 50 new jobs.
Starmer ‘very worried’ over Trump assassination attempt as Farage condemns ‘appalling’ incident
Monday 16 September 2024 18:29
Jabed Ahmed
‘A literal fascist’: Diane Abbott criticises Starmer for meeting Meloni
Monday 16 September 2024 17:58
Jabed Ahmed
Why is @starmer meeting with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, a literal fascist, to discuss immigration? What does he hope to learn from her? pic.twitter.com/nThfvibxAV
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) September 16, 2024
New detention centres in Albania are a ‘stain on the Italian government’, Amnesty International says
Monday 16 September 2024 17:29
Jabed Ahmed
Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office Eve Geddie said: “It’s shameful that despite all the criticism and concerns raised by human rights bodies, the Italian government has decided to go ahead with this agreement. Not only is the plan incredibly harmful, it is also unlawful.
“People in distress at sea will be subjected to long and unnecessary journeys, in patent violation of Italy’s obligation to ensure the swift disembarkation of rescued persons in a ‘place of safety’. On reaching dry land, they will face automatic, arbitrary and potentially prolonged detention in Albania.
“While under the terms of this agreement, people would remain under Italian jurisdiction, it is likely that their right to seek asylum and have their claims fairly assessed will be severely curtailed.
“These centres represent the latest attempt by an EU country to circumvent their obligations under EU and international law by ‘externalising’ or shifting the processing of people’s protection claims outside of their territory.
“The new EU leadership must firmly reject attempts to offshore the processing of asylum claims. These plans have had a disastrous impact on both human lives and the cost of asylum systems when they have been tried before.
“This cruel experiment is a stain on the Italian government. It will practically only affect racialized people on the move and it distracts and detracts from policies that could truly strengthen asylum systems, support people in need of safety, and benefit the communities that welcome them.”
Italian premier Ms Meloni has brushed aside humanitarian concerns about her country’s deal with Albania as “completely groundless”.
Full report: Starmer reported to Parliament’s standards watchdog over wife’s clothes bought by donor
Monday 16 September 2024 16:59
Jabed Ahmed
Lib Dem deputy leader talks about being told she had ‘just four days to live’
Monday 16 September 2024 16:41
Jabed Ahmed
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has said she was once told she had “just four days left to live”, as she shared her experiences of Crohn’s disease.
Addressing the party’s autumn conference in Brighton on Monday, Ms Cooper told delegates that “12 years ago” she was “rushed to hospital” and then later “sobbed” as she faced the prospect of having to give up work.
“A few weeks in, I was told that without major surgery I had just four days left to live. My weight had dropped to around seven stone, my eyesight was failing,” she told delegates.
Recalling her experiences, she said that her arms had gone “black and blue” and she was “fed only through a feeding tube”.
“But it wasn’t the prospect of major surgery that upset me, it was what was said next,” Ms Cooper said.
Exclusive: Lib Dem councillor says she was ‘diagnosed with PTSD over Brexit’
Monday 16 September 2024 16:21
Jabed Ahmed
My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:
Lib Dems put God on trial in court case of deselected Christian candidate
Monday 16 September 2024 15:59
Jabed Ahmed
Starmer dodges question on allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow Missiles on Russian targets
Monday 16 September 2024 15:39
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has said Nato needs to “put Ukraine in the best possible position”, when asked about the UK potentially lifting restrictions on Storm Shadow missiles to allow them to be used inside Russian territory.
“I think it is important for us to start from the fundamental position, which is that this is an illegal war started by Russia and, as a result, Ukraine has the right to self defence, and we have all – Italy, the UK and other allies, Nato allies in particular – been standing with Ukraine,” he told reporters in Rome.
He added: “It’s a war against the values of democracy, of freedom and the rule of law, which apply to all of us in our respective countries, but across all of the allies. That is why we’ve supplied capability, we’ve supplied training, we’ve supplied money, and there are further commitments to be made recently in relation to all of those.
“I think it’s very important as a matter of principle that we put Ukraine in the best possible position, and that’s what we’ve been discussing. We’ve had the opportunity today to touch on that.
“I had the opportunity in recent days to touch on that. I’m not going to go into individual capabilities. You wouldn’t expect me to do that, but the principle framework, I think, is absolutely right, and we’ll continue to have our discussions in relation to it.”
Explained: How has Italy reduced small boat arrivals by more than 60% in a year and what is the Albania scheme?
Monday 16 September 2024 15:19
Jabed Ahmed
Starmer says 3,000 people have been returned to their country of origin under Labour government
Monday 16 September 2024 14:59
Jabed Ahmed
The Prime Minister claimed his Government has overseen “the single biggest flight that has ever taken off returning people to their country of origin”.
Sir Keir Starmer told reporters in Rome: “Of course, it’s a problem when we’ve got people arriving into the UK who are arriving unlawfully across the channel or any other route, and, of course, every government has the responsibility of making sure our borders are secure.
“Rather than a gimmick, which, as you know, cost £700 million to persuade four volunteers to go to Rwanda, we have gone down the road of pragmatism.
“Already we have returned over 3,000 people by flights. So, the flights actually did get off under this Government, not to Rwanda, but back to countries of origin, carrying with them 3,000 people who shouldn’t be here, including the single biggest flight that has ever taken off, returning people to their country of origin.
“That’s why we’re working so intently on the Border Security Command, which is intended to take down the gangs that are running the vile trade in the first place.”
Voices: Giorgia Meloni’s Albania migrant deal won’t work here
Monday 16 September 2024 14:38
Jabed Ahmed
Pictured: Victoria Starmer’s designer wardrobe amid claims donor paid for £5,000 worth of her clothes
Monday 16 September 2024 14:20
Jabed Ahmed
Government returns to ‘British pragmatism’ on migration, Starmer says
Monday 16 September 2024 14:14
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir signalled he was more interested in Italy’s work preventing migrants from reaching the country than its Albania deal, as he claimed his Government had returned to “British pragmatism” on migration.
The Prime Minister said Italy’s reduction in unauthorised migrant numbers was “more likely attributable to the work that the prime minister (Giorgia 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.
“We are pragmatists first and foremost. When we see a challenge we discuss with our friends and allies the different approaches that are being taken, look at what works, and that is the approach we have taken today, and it has been a very productive day.”
Claims of human rights violations in Italy-Albania deal ‘groundless’, Meloni says
Monday 16 September 2024 14:12
Jabed Ahmed
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said concerns about human rights violations in the Italy-Albania migrant deal were “completely groundless”.
Asked about the concerns at a press conference in Rome, she said: “I don’t know what human rights violations you’re referring to, to be totally frank.
“This accusation, I think it’s completely groundless.”
She added that migrants sent to Albania would be dealt with under Italian jurisdiction.
UK has shown great interest in Italy-Albania deal, Meloni says
Monday 16 September 2024 14:05
Jabed Ahmed
Giorgia Meloni said the UK had shown “great interest” in the Italian government’s migration deal with Albania.
The Italian premier told a press conference in Rome that she and Sir Keir Starmer had signed a joint communique including “very tangible, important points, and is evidence of the deep relation between our two countries.”
She said they had discussed the Albanian deal, adding: “The UK Government has shown great interest in this agreement.”
Ms Meloni said they both want “to enhance this very good relationship between Italy and the UK” and “increase co-operation with the EU while of course respecting the post-Brexit rules”.
“I am very satisfied with this meeting today,” she added.
Starmer and Meloni discussed how they can work together to tackle global challenges
Monday 16 September 2024 14:05
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer said he and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni have discussed how the two countries can work together to tackle global challenges.
At a joint press conference, the Prime Minister said: “We used our time today to discuss the global challenges before us and our determination to meet them together.
He said they would “stand shoulder to shoulder to support Ukraine for as long as it takes”.
“We will work together, as we discussed, to deliver the 50 billion euros in loans for Ukraine under your G7 presidency.”
He added: “We are united in our support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.”
Starmer praises Italy’s migrant policies
Monday 16 September 2024 14:03
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir told the press conference: “We also discussed the challenge of irregular migration, this is a problem across Europe - for both of our countries in particular but across Europe.”
He added: “You’ve made remarkable progress working with countries across migration routes as equals, to address the drivers of migration at source and tackle gangs.
“And as a result irregular arrivals to Italy by sea are down 60 per cent since 2022, so I’m pleased that we’re deepening our cooperation here led on the UK side here by our new UK Border Security Commander who has been here with me this morning.”
Meloni announces migration declaration with Starmer
Monday 16 September 2024 13:51
Jabed Ahmed
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said: “The UK and Italy represent two fundamental pillars of the transatlantic community and these two countries are to play a primary role in international scenarios.
“The further enhancement of our strategic cooperation can be decisive to address the various points on the international agenda to guarantee prosperity to our countries and it is along these lines that these adopted today a joint declaration.
“A declaration which is very important because it has tangible points, important points, and is evidence of our deep-rooted relations between our two countries.”
Live: Starmer and Meloni share plans for tackling illegal migration at news conference in Rome
Monday 16 September 2024 13:41
Jabed Ahmed