U.K. may set up migrant 'return hubs' in other nations: PM Starmer

Keir Starmer discusses return hubs for failed asylum seekers amid pressure to reduce irregular migration in the UK.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday (May 15, 2025) said the U.K. would begin talks with other countries on "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers.

"What now we want to do and are having discussions of... is return hubs, which is where someone has been through the system in the UK, they need to be returned... and we'll do that, if we can, through return hubs," Starmer told GB News television from Albania, where he is on an official visit.

Mr. Starmer is under pressure to cut the number of irregular migrants arriving on U.K. shores, many in small boats, amid the rising popularity of the hard-right and anti-immigrant Reform U.K. party.

Under Starmer's Labour government, Britain last July abandoned a scheme to deport undocumented migrants to Rwanda.

Cracking down on irregular migrants had been set to top the agenda for Starmer's two-day visit to the southeast European nation.

Earlier this week Mr. Starmer unveiled tough new immigration policies that include cutting overseas care workers, doubling the length of time before migrants can qualify for settlement in the country and new powers to deport foreign criminals.

The speech was widely seen as an attempt to fend off rising support for anti-immigrant firebrand Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform U.K. party, which made gains in local elections this month.