Albania's Prime Minister has launched a stinging attack on Britain's Home Secretary, accusing her of employing 'ethnic stereotyping' and 'indecent demagoguery' after UK officials identified 700 Albanian families for potential deportation.
Diplomatic Row Erupts Over Deportation Policy
Edi Rama, Albania's Socialist party leader, publicly questioned how a Labour politician could 'so poorly echo the rhetoric of the populist far-right' in a social media post directed at Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The criticism comes after UK authorities specifically targeted Albanian families and children who have refused return to their homeland despite rejected asylum claims.
The Albanian leader highlighted that targeting 700 Albanian families represents 'a statistical drop in the ocean of post-Brexit Britain's challenges' and comes at a time when both nations have developed one of Europe's most successful partnerships on illegal migration.
Economic Contributions and Growing Tensions
Prime Minister Rama defended the Albanian community's presence in Britain, noting that Albanians are net contributors to the British economy with relatively low benefit claims compared to other communities. He argued that repeatedly singling out Albanians constitutes a 'troubling and indecent exercise in demagoguery' rather than legitimate policy.
An Albanian government source confirmed growing tensions between the two governments, despite their successful collaboration on immigration policies. The dispute emerges as Mahmood faces anger from more than two dozen Labour MPs over plans that could see families forcibly removed if they refuse cash incentives to return voluntarily.
Expert Analysis and Historical Context
Andi Hoxhaj, an associate fellow from the Royal United Services Institute, observed that the UK government appears to be targeting and singling out Albanians in its rhetoric, echoing similar issues under the previous Conservative administration. Hoxhaj suggested this approach seems increasingly tied to the government's push to reform ECHR provisions on family rights.
This isn't the first time Prime Minister Rama has criticised a UK home secretary. In November 2022, he accused former Home Secretary Suella Braverman of 'fuelling xenophobia' when she claimed some Albanians were abusing modern slavery laws.
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of significantly reduced Albanian migration, with the Home Office acknowledging more than a 90% drop in Albanian small-boat arrivals since 2022, while Albanian asylum claims remain low.
