Keir Starmer met today with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today to discuss migration policy. The move is the biggest indication yet that Labour seeks to project strength on immigration.
In the aftermath of the outgoing Prime Minister being outlived by a lettuce, it isn’t too surprising that shock of the Conservative’s unpopularity was so muted, however, this moment was groundbreaking. At no point in Ipsos polling history, or that of any major pollster, had Labour scored better on migration than the Conservatives.
Whilst this was in large part due to Conservative failure rather than Labour success, certain shifts in Labour’s policy allowed this to happen.
In opposition Starmer contrasted with his predecessor by arguing that net immigration was too high and that Labour would “control our borders”.
Labour argued that Conservative policy cared more about ‘scapegoating’ migrants than it did reducing their numbers. They argued that by training domestic workers and breaking up criminal gangs, the economic drive for migration would end.
However, perhaps Labour’s success is better characterised as the Conservative’s failure. During the home secretary’s first speech to the Commons, several MPs remarked on the “almighty mess” that they had inherited.
In the months since, blame has rapidly been apportioned to Labour.
The aftermath of the riots in August has seen anti-immigration increase significantly.
Earlier this month, YouGov found that 69% of respondents, a record level, believe that immigration is too high. Polling later that week by YouGov found that Immigration was considered the most important political issue, the first time since December 2016.
Why Did The Prime Minister Meet with Meloni?
From the outset, Starmer’s visit to Meloni was focused on immigration. Starmer praised the effectiveness of Meloni’s border policies, and has framed the trip as a way for the UK government to learn from her.
Starmer’s visit comes in the backdrop of Foreign Minister David Lammy stating that the government “are interested” in processing asylum claimants in Albania. Following the visit, the Home Secretary has stated that the UK is not considering a deal with Albania “at the moment”. The Prime Minister, however, has expressed renewed interest towards such a policy.
Outwardly, Starmer’s association with Meloni undermines his government’s position against the rise of the European far right. The Prime Minister once praised Mussolini as Italy’s greatest politician since the 1940s. However, since coming to power, Meloni has attempted to distance herself and her party from Fascist connections.
Many aren’t convinced, however. Many in her ‘Brothers of Italy’ party outwardly continue to praise fascism and Nazism. Headlines were made last week when Mussolini’s granddaughter left the party, believing it had increasingly become “too right wing”.
Why is Labour Signaling a Harder line on Migration?
Starmer’s decision to meet with Meloni signals a massive shift in Labour’s attitude to immigration and its strategy for dealing with the far right.
As was previously covered by Chamber UK, last month the UK Prime Minister met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In the aftermath of riots in the UK and with AFD success in several German state elections looking more likely, immigration and the far-right was emphasised during his visit.
Starmer expressed a non-ideological approach to winning back voters from the “snake oil” of right wing populism. Starmer argued that delivering on bread and butter issues, rather than kowtowing on immigration was the most effective way of undermining their support.
Scholz had a different perspective.
In the aftermath of a stabbing by an asylum seeker a few days before, Scholz has signaled a harder line on immigration. It was widely thought that this was done in part to undermine support for anti-immigrant parties such as the AFD and WSB during upcoming state elections.
Scholz’s approach mirrors that of the Danish Social Democratic party, which destroyed the viability of the populist right by taking a hard line on immigration, cutting off their one winning issue.
The Prime Minister’s meeting with Meloni indicates that the Prime Minister has shifted towards Scholz’s line of thinking, and of several other progressive parties in Europe.
Final Thought
Starmer appears to be following in the footsteps of Germany and Denmark’s Social Democrats. The Labour party is likely to seek greater control over the border to steal Reform’s support out from under them.
This strategy has been electorally effective in Denmark, however, less so in other European countries.
Most notably, the strategy has so far been ineffective in preventing the rise of the Le Pen’s ‘National Rally’ party in France. So far neither has Scholz’s shift to the right undercut the AFD or BSW.
Additionally, there are moral concerns that may affect Labour’s decision making. Many of the policies instituted by both far-right governments such as Meloni and Denmark’s center-left have been criticised as undermining international human rights.
If Labour does seek to mirror European progressives in taking cues from the far-right, many will no doubt feel betrayed.
For more of Chamber UK’s analysis on migration policy, please click here.