Keir Starmer hints at new deals with three countries to stop migrants leaving

Keir Stamer told reporters helium is 'not going to spell into the details of immoderate arrangements' - but refused to contradict speculation that bespoke agreements are being sought

Keir Starmer has hinted ministers are successful talks with Iraq, Turkey and Vietnam implicit deals to halt would-be asylum seekers leaving.

Officials are understood to beryllium hammering retired multi-million lb agreements that would spot borderline measures strengthened successful each country.

Similar arrangements person antecedently been reached by the Italian government, but person been heavy criticised by quality rights groups.

The Prime Minister told reporters helium is "not going to spell into the details of immoderate arrangements". But helium refused to contradict speculation that bespoke agreements are being sought.

Such deals would spot the UK wage Turkey, Vietnam and Kurdistan - a semi-autonomous portion of Iraq - to stem the travel of migrants leaving.

These nations would beryllium required to fortify measures connected their ain borders, and immoderate woody could see a returns agreement. Mr Starmer said: "Anything other we tin bash to halt radical leaving successful the archetypal spot is the close thing.”

The Italian authorities has reached akin agreements with Tunisia and Libya to halt radical heading for Europe. But it has led to reports of migrants being forced into Libyan detention camps, wherever determination are allegations of torture.

Mr Starmer has antecedently praised Italian PM Georgia Meloni's "upstream work". The PM added that his Government has had occurrence with speeding up returns - with astir 9,400 failed asylum seekers removed since Labour came to power.

He told reporters connected the travel to the G20 acme successful Brazil: "We person done a batch of enactment connected returns since we person travel into government. We person got I deliberation 9,400 radical person been returned.

"We person had the biggest azygous level loads of returns going off, I deliberation we person had the 3 biggest present that person ever gone off, truthful that is truly bully connected returns.

"Obviously a batch of my clip and absorption has been taking down the gangs successful the archetypal place." He said he'd had discussions with the French, German and Italian governments and had been "pressing hard" connected instrumentality enforcement.

Referring to the apprehension of a suspected tiny vessel motor kingpin pursuing a associated quality cognition past week, helium said: "I was precise pleased to spot the apprehension we saw connected Thursday successful narration to the Turkish individual.

"That is simply a precise important apprehension successful my sentiment and I was precise pleased that the National Crime Agency (NCA) were playing specified a important portion successful that peculiar operation. So my absorption is connected stopping the arrivals successful the archetypal spot which is taking down the gangs. Of course, we person got to get the returns sorted retired arsenic well."