The UK prime minister was speaking at a news conference, alongside his Italian counterpart, following talks in Rome.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to give some £4 million to the far-right Italian government to tackle irregular migration. The funding for the initiative, called the Rome Process, comes following the meeting of the two leaders.

THE UK HAS shown “great interest” in Italy’s migrant deal with Albania, Giorgia Meloni said, as Keir Starmer claimed his Government would make a return to “British pragmatism” on migration. Italian premier Meloni also brushed aside humanitarian concerns about her country’s deal with Albania as “completely groundless”.

Sir Keir Starmer visited Italy's migration coordination centre ahead of his meeting with Giorgia Meloni Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “interested” in learning about Italy’s scheme to send migrants rescued at sea to Albania to process their asylum claims,