SIR KEIR STARMER ramped up his anti-migrant campaign today with a pledge to set up “return hubs” for asylum-seekers in third countries.

Speaking on a trip to Albania, he announced that Labour will start looking at sending failed asylum-seekers for processing in third countries prior to deportation.

This forms part of his effort to crack down on small boats crossing the Channel in order to secure the support of Reform-inclined voters.

He told Reform’s favourite TV channel, GB News: “What we 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 have to make sure they’re returned effectively and we’ll do that, if we can, through return hubs.”

But PCS union general secretary Fran Heathcote called for a safe routes policy as the only way to limit illegal crossings by refugees.

“The only effective way to ‘smash the gangs’ is to take away their business model by implementing the safe routes policy, so that no asylum-seeker is forced into unseaworthy vessels in the English Channel in order to claim asylum,” she said.

“Last year, a record 78 people drowned while crossing the English Channel seeking refuge on our shores. We need a more humane policy that saves lives.

“Our members who work on the borders witness at first hand the fallout of the existing punitive policies — the violence and harassment, the panic and dangers, and that’s why PCS is calling for a system that puts saving lives at its centre by opening safe routes to claim asylum.”

Sir Keir’s plan comes as 2025 is on course to be a record year for numbers crossing the Channel.

If established, the return hubs will target failed asylum-seekers who are seeking to frustrate their deportation or have lost their paperwork.

Officials will conduct negotiations with potential host countries over the coming months.

Italy currently operates a similar programme with Albania, sending failed asylum-seekers to the country while they await deportation, but this has been held up by legal wrangles.

While in Tirana, the Prime Minister was also expected to announce further co-operation with Albania on tackling illegal migration and organised crime alongside Albanian Premier Edi Rama.