Albanian PM accuses Mahmood of ‘ethnic stereotyping’

Albania’s prime minister has accused Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood of “ethnic stereotyping” after she singled out Albanian families in a speech about the abuse of the asylum system.

Edi Rama criticized Mahmood as he announced major reforms on Monday for telling MPs that around 700 Albanian families were “living in taxpayer-funded accommodation as their asylum claims were unsuccessful”.

Rama described the figure as “a statistical drop in the ocean of challenges facing post-Brexit Britain”.

Official data shows Britain has deported more than 13,000 people to Albania since the return agreement was signed in 2022. Rama described the agreement as “one of Europe’s most successful partnerships on illegal migration.”

Mahmood’s comments came as follows: announced big changes Britain’s “out of control and unfair” asylum system.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said: “If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will lead more people down a path that starts with anger and ends with hate.”

The reforms will make refugee status temporary, increase the waiting period for permanent settlement from five to 20 years, and allow the displacement of families with children who do not have the right to stay.

As well as tightening access to refugee status, the UK will create new legal routes to the UK with an annual number cap.

“We must remove people whose asylum claims are unsuccessful, no matter who they are,” Mahmood told MPs as part of his speech.

“For example, despite an existing repatriation agreement and the fact that Albania is a signatory to the European human rights convention, there are approximately 700 Albanian families living in taxpayer-funded accommodation who are unable to fulfill their asylum claims.” he added.

Posting on social media, Rama said: “How could a Labor Home Secretary so poorly reflect the rhetoric of the populist far-right and single out 700 Albanian families, a statistical drop in the ocean of challenges facing post-Brexit Britain, at precisely the time when the UK and Albania have established one of Europe’s most successful partnerships on illegal immigration?”

“Let’s be clear: Albanians are a net contributor to the British economy and the number of Albanians receiving UK aid is very low compared to other communities.

“Repeatedly excluding them is not policy; it is a disturbing and inappropriate practice of demagoguery.

“Official policy should never be guided by ethnic stereotypes. This is the least humanity expects from Great Britain.”

Rama has repeatedly clashed with British politicians over their statements regarding Albanian citizens.

In May Sir Keir Starmer traveled to the Albanian capital Tirana and Rama told him that Britain would not host “return centres” for unsuccessful asylum seekers from other countries.

At the same press conference, Rama accused the previous Conservative government of “stigmatizing” Albanians and warned that “it is not a good idea to curse Albanians, because the curse is back and they are now outside parliament.”

Rama, a combative figure on social media, had previously invited Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to Albania to discuss his claim that one in 50 Albanians in Britain is in prison.

Rama described the figure as “crazy” and accused Farage of selling his “post-truth Brexit playbook” politics.