Keir Starmer has defended his trip to Italy to learn about the country’s approach to stopping irregular migration, emphasizing the importance of “upstream work” to prevent migrants from setting off in the first place. He highlighted the success Italy has had in reducing irregular migration through tough enforcement and international cooperation. Starmer’s visit includes meetings with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to discuss strategies for tackling organized immigration crimes and working upstream to prevent dangerous journeys.
Nevertheless, some Labour MPs and refugee charities have expressed concern over learning from a hard-right European government. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the approach, stressing the importance of cooperating with democratically elected governments and prioritizing the fight against organized crime and human traffickers. Cooper also clarified that while Italy is exploring sending asylum seekers to Albania for processing, this is not a current consideration for Labour.
In addition, leading economists have called on Labour to loosen fiscal rules to allow for increased public investment in areas like health and social care. Meanwhile, at the Liberal Democrat conference, deputy leader Daisy Cooper emphasized the importance of healthcare as a liberal idea rooted in individual freedom and urged the Labour government to prioritize public investment in the upcoming budget. Starmer, in a separate meeting with Italian business leaders, stressed the importance of making difficult decisions early on for growth. The trip and statements by Labour leaders continue to generate discussion and debate around the party’s approach to immigration, fiscal policy, and public investments.
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