Sir Keir Starmer was left red-faced during a visit to Albania after Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly ruled out hosting so-called "return hubs" for failed UK asylum seekers in an awkward public snub. The Labour leader announced plans to explore third-country processing sites for migrants who had exhausted all legal routes to remain in Britain — but Albania swiftly confirmed it wanted no part in the proposal.

Speaking at a press conference in Tirana, Mr Rama said: “We have been asked by several countries if we were open to it, and we said no, because we are loyal to the marriage with Italy and the rest is just love.” The blunt rejection came just hours after Sir Keir used an interview with GB News to confirm that the Government had begun talks with unnamed countries about housing migrants awaiting deportation. He said: “What now we want to do and are having discussions of, talks of, is return hubs, which is where someone has been through the system in the UK, they need to be returned and we have to make sure they're returned effectively and we'll do that, if we can, through return hubs.”

Downing Street was forced to clarify that Albania had never been on the list of countries under consideration and that the subject was “never planned as part of discussions” with Mr Rama.

Sir Keir’s spokesman claimed the idea of return hubs was not aimed at new arrivals but failed asylum seekers attempting to delay deportation using “tactics” such as destroying paperwork or starting a family.

He said: “This will basically apply to people who have exhausted all legal routes to remain in the UK but are attempting to stall, using various tactics. It will ensure that they don't have the chance to make their removal harder… as we have seen from cases in the past.”

The Government believes removing such individuals to third countries will reduce their ability to frustrate the deportation process — and cut costs to the taxpayer.

Officials said talks would continue with other governments over the coming months, but declined to name any of the countries being considered.

Italy already runs a similar scheme with Albania, which sends failed asylum seekers to the country while their deportation is finalised. That deal has faced legal challenges and delays.

Sir Keir insisted his plan was different from the Conservatives' Rwanda policy because it would only apply to people who had already been through the system and lost their appeals.

He admitted the measure was “not a silver bullet” but said it would help tackle the people-smuggling trade and stop further Channel crossings.

“This will allow us to bear down on this vile trade and make sure that we stop those people crossing the Channel,” he said.

The trip came the same week that the number of small boat arrivals in 2025 passed 12,000 — a figure that puts this year on track to surpass previous records.

While in Tirana, Sir Keir is also expected to announce closer cooperation with Albanian authorities on organised crime and efforts to prevent deported individuals from returning to the UK — described by officials as the “revolving door problem”.

Sir Keir told reporters his visit should be seen as “a statement of intent as to the regard that I hold Albania,” and brushed off suggestions that an apology was needed over historic UK rhetoric targeting Albanian migrants.

But the visit was swiftly branded an “embarrassment” by Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who said: “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?

“Under the Conservatives, we already struck a real returns deal and a law enforcement deal with Albania — and they worked. Small boat arrivals from Albania dropped by over 90%. Now Labour are dishonestly insinuating it's down to them.”

He added: “The Government is scrambling to stitch together a weak imitation of our Rwanda plan.”