Many will think Keir Starmer crossed the line meeting Italy’s Giorgia Meloni (original) (raw)

Starmer should think twice before cosying up with right-wing populists like Italy’s Giorgia Meloni

Some on the left were already uneasy that the Prime Minister was willing to strike up a friendship with a hard-right populist and discuss ways of tackling illegal immigration

Sir Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni unite for a joint press conference

Prime Ministers cannot be too picky when it comes to working with fellow world leaders.

Part of the job description is having to forge relationships with heads of states with whom they may have nothing in common.

If that means holding President Trump’s hand, as in the case of Theresa May, or having to put up with Colonel Gaddafi’s flatulence, as experienced by Tony Blair, they console themselves they are acting in their country’s best interest.

There is also a fine line between representing your country and standing up for your principles.

Many will think Starmer crossed that line when he met Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to discuss ways of tackling illegal migration.

Some on the left were already uneasy that the Prime Minister was willing to strike up a friendship with a hard-right populist whose party was founded by supporters of Benito Mussolini.

But it would have made them genuinely queasy that he travelled to Rome to pick Meloni’s brains about a migrant deportation deal Italy has struck with Albania.

Human rights organisations claim the Albanian detention centres contain victims of violence and people with mental health problems who are held in conditions that violate their rights.

At their joint press conference, Mr Starmer said he was taking a pragmatic approach and was only interested in “what works.”

His critics would have preferred if he had used his visit to the Eternal City to uphold eternal values.