How we're tackling illegal migration by James Cleverly

Last year, twelve thousand Albanians arrived on our shores illegally. But as of today, that number has plummeted by a whopping 90%.

How did we achieve this enormous reduction?

Not alone.

We did it by working tirelessly with the government of Albania, winning their trust and building an effective partnership.

The Albanian government understood that the smuggling gangs were exploiting individuals and communities. The only interest of these gangs was lining their own pockets.

Albania itself did not gain from a growth-reducing brain drain. And some in Britain were rightly appalled by all those who enter our country illegally, with no real interest in claiming asylum.

Last December, as we celebrated one hundred years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Albania, we pledged deeper cooperation on illegal migration.

The Joint Communique we signed committed UK and Albanian diplomats and law enforcement officials to work together to end this abhorrent practice. And crucially, it also looked beyond this immediate priority, encompassing ambitions to do more on trade and investment, renewable energy, defence and security, education and much more.

I am delighted we have expanded our economic development programme from Kukes to Diber, in northern Albania. And that the UK is investing in providing equipment and training in areas such as cyber resilience and use of forensics. Such cooperation is in keeping with the relationship we want with Albania and all our allies and friends around the world. With Turkey, for instance, we are supporting them in building a Centre of Excellence for tackling organised crime. With Ethiopia, we have a new agreement on returning illegal migrants. With both, we are also deepening our economic and security ties.

This is diplomacy in action. Tangible outcomes delivered via patient diplomacy, founded on shared interests and the goodwill generated by a broad relationship.

We can often forget the subtle yet significant connections between the UK and countries across the world. For example, in 1653, Pasqua Rosée – Pashk Rosi to Albanians – founded London’s very first coffee house. Among its clientele was the celebrated poet, John Milton. Given the dates, it is possible that he wrote Paradise Lost under the influence of Rosi’s produce. There are now over 2300 coffee shops across our capital, but that first establishment started our transformation from a nation of tea addicts to a country of coffee connoisseurs.

This story struck me as a brilliant example of how our people have benefitted and will benefit from closer connections. And whether you have a taste for Dua Lipa or the political theory of Lea Ypi, the UK continues to benefit from such personal connections today.

A partnership which is working towards ending the blatant exploitation of our immigration system.

A partnership which instead allows us to focus on the opportunities which lie ahead.