THE Prime Minister goes to Rome on Sunday as a man without a plan to solve the migration crisis, according to a former foreign secretary and an ex-immigration minister.

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Italian Giorgia Meloni, who was a close ally of Rishi Sunak and has pioneered a scheme for migrants to be processed in Albania. But Conservative leadership contenders turned their guns on Sir Keir for scrapping the UK’s deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

James Cleverly, who served as Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, said: “We worked closely with Italy when we were in government. Giorgia Meloni showed true leadership on migration through Italy’s G7 Presidency, and our joint working included breaking up supply chains for small boats. Giorgia Meloni praised the work that we were doing to fight traffickers and illegal immigration.

“Keir Starmer doesn’t have a plan to tackle migration. He has scrapped our deterrent, and has shown time and time again that he is on the side of the people smugglers rather than the British people.”

Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, said: “The last Conservative Government elevated cooperation with Italy to record levels. This work is important, but it’s not enough to stop the boats.

“Sir Keir can’t disguise the fact Labour have no credible plan to stop the boats. Their decision to scrap, not strengthen, the Rwanda deterrent has left Britain defenceless against small boat crossings for years to come.”