Watch: Starmer and Meloni share plans for tackling illegal migration at news conference in Rome

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Watch as Sir Keir Starmer and Giorgia Meloni share plans for tackling illegal migration at a news conference in Rome on Monday, 16 September.

The prime minister has said he is “very interested” in Italy’s strategies to reduce irregular migration.

Sir Keir is visiting the Italian capital as he continues his attempts to reset relations with the UK’s nearest neighbours, with migration expected to be at the top of the agenda.

The “dramatic reductions” in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Italy is something the government wants to understand, the PM added.

Sir Keir has indicated he is open to pursuing an arrangement similar to Italy’s migration deal with Albania, whereby asylum seekers will be held in the Balkan state while their claims are processed.

On Monday morning, home secretary Yvette Cooper also confirmed the government is looking to Italian-style migration policies in several areas, including a deal with Albania and a “major returns” scheme.

“There are four different things that the Italians are doing that we’re interested in,” Ms Cooper told BBC Breakfast.

“The first is the work that they are doing around organised immigration crime. That’s the work that we are substantially gearing up, where we will be doing a huge technology upgrade as well, and where we want to work with Italy, with Germany, with other European countries, with France as well."