Mail Online

Albanian PM once advised by Alastair Campbell attacks Suella

By Harriet Line Deputy Political Editor

SUELLA Braverman was attacked by Albania’s prime minister yesterday over her ‘ disgraceful’ comments about migrants from his country.

Edi Rama – who has been advised by Tony Blair’s ex-spin doctor Alastair Campbell – said the Home Secretary’s language last year had plunged relations between the UK and the Balkan state to ‘a very low point’.

In November, Mrs Braverman claimed that ‘many Albanians’ are making ‘spurious claims that they are “modern slaves” – despite paying thousands to come to this country’.

She has also described the record number of migrants arriving in small boats as an ‘invasion’.

Last year more than 12,000 Albanians crossed the Channel in small boats – up from just 50 in 2020.

Mr Rama said yesterday, ahead of a meeting with Rishi Sunak in London, that the Albanian community had been ‘singled out’ for political purposes and relations should not be defined by a few ‘rotten apples’.

‘It has been a very, very disgraceful moment for British politics but on the other hand I am very satisfied with your Prime Minister,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Asked to clarify his comments, Mr Rama said: ‘I mean what has been spoken out by members of the Cabinet, starting from the Home Secretary, and then I mean exactly what has been developing as the singling out of our community.’

‘This has been a very low point in our relations but as I said there is a will to overcome it.’

Mr Rama praised Mr Blair’s New Labour, saying: ‘Great Britain has always been a role model for us, and without Tony Blair and without New Labour we would not have been as successful as we have been by implementing exactly the New Labour spirit in our own party and in our own ruling majority.’

Former Downing Street director of communications Mr Campbell worked with Mr Rama’s Socialist Party team in the ‘Renaissance campaign’ that secured his victory in the 2013 elections.

Last night a Government source said: ‘I couldn’t imagine one of our ministers going on Albanian radio to call out their interior minister or Home Secretary but perhaps we’re working to different standards.’

In their meeting Mr Sunak and Mr Rama promised to work together to tackle illegal migration and peoplesmuggling gangs, according to a joint statement after they met.

‘They discussed increased operational co- operation, including ... communications to deter people from travelling in the first place, and further agreements on data sharing and passports,’ it said.

‘Singling out of our community’

WAR IN UKRAINE

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