Raducanu v Wang LIVE: French Open scores and updates including Alcaraz

The French Open continues on Day 2 at Roland Garros with Emma Raducanu in action early before the two favourites in the men’s singles begin their quest for glory in Paris.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who both collided in the Italian Open final this month, take to court. While Raducanu is joined by a number of Britons across the day, including Katie Boulter and Jacob Fearnley.

The Briton has been quietly rebuilding her confidence in what has developed into a promising year, and she faces Wang Xinyu early on Court 8.

Elsewhere, Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending women’s champion, with four crowns overall here on the famous red clay, hopes to find her happy place at Roland Garros to snap a rotten run over the last year.

Follow all the latest updates, scores, results and analysis from Roland Garros below:

It’s not your imagination. Advertising is getting worse

I was first conscious of something rotten in the advertising industry when, standing on a Tube platform, I saw a KFC advert looking back at me. I love KFC. I should be glad to see an advert for KFC. Instead, I was horrified by the poster. “Succumb to the bread crumb,” it declared. I stared at it for a while. “Succumb to the bread crumb”? How could you work on that ad campaign and choose that phrase, knowing that the infinitely better “Succumb to the crumb” was not just staring you in the face but clawing at your hair and screaming into your ears?

It’s hard to escape the niggling feeling that advert copywriting is getting worse. No doubt you have your own personal crusade: maybe it’s adjectives being used as nouns – the trend that had Lexus saying “experience amazing”, or trainer company Saucony declaring, “find your strong”; perhaps it’s the fashion for “I am”, which led brands like Mercedes to launch slogans like “I am Mercedes”. There is plenty to choose from. As brands shriek at you over the noise and AI threatens to take over writing of all kinds, is the art of great copywriting at risk of extinction? Are we struggling to find amazing?

Desperate to discover how a company could plump for “succumb to the bread crumb”, I went straight to the source. “We reached ‘succumb to the breadcrumb’ after a process of creative exploration, and it was one of 400 potential lines we considered for the campaign,” says Monica Sillic, KFC’s chief marketing officer. “We knew we wanted the copy to be punchy, playful and nod to the highly stylised world we’ve depicted in our recent creative. ‘Succumb to the breadcrumb’ stood out to us because it felt memorable and relevant to our breadcrumbed chicken, which is freshly prepared by our restaurant teams every day.” Why didn’t they use “succumb to the crumb”, I ask. “We deliberately chose to use breadcrumb versus crumb because ‘crumb’ could apply to a huge number of other food items, from cakes to sandwiches.”

There is no argument, of course. “Succumb to the bread crumb” is objectively one of the worst things ever committed to print, and a great example of how pedantry kills great copy. Even if you might have thought a focus group could have spotted this problem, brands don’t always use them, and may simply assume that critics don’t fully appreciate the work anyway. (A mini Mandela Effect exists here, incidentally. When I speak to Rory Sutherland, vice-chairman of the UK wing of advertising agency Ogilvy, he is convinced that he saw “succumb to the crumb” somewhere. KFC do not respond to my question about whether they altered the wording in reaction to online feedback, and it seems unlikely that they would have done, given how much they love the version they chose. Sutherland may have seen what his brain dearly wanted him to see.)

“There is a decline in advertising as poetry,” Sutherland says, citing a variety of factors. One unfortunate effect of a more fragmented population having less of a shared cultural lexicon, Sutherland points out, is that it is harder for phrases like “it does exactly what it says on the tin” and “should’ve gone to Specsavers” to have the impact they once did. For this reason, brands often try to go for the jugular. “Tone of voice has sometimes become excessively abrupt,” says Sutherland. “‘Just Do It’ for Nike – fantastic endline – but it gave rise to a whole fashion for what you might call ‘the imperative’ in advertising. I would argue that advertising is there to persuade, not to command.”

Another advert a friend alerted me to was one for shaving brand Wilkinson Sword, in which the reader was assured: “We’ve got your back, face.” The word “face” stood alone, miles away from the rest of the sentence. Given that this was an advert for a razor, the unwelcome – and presumably unwanted – image of someone shaving their back came to mind. I spoke to Dan Watts, who created that advert and a range of others with his team at Pablo London, where he is editorial creative director. Pablo knew they were going up against the mighty Gillette, so needed to give their client something that would make a splash. “You just wanna be noticed and get talked about. And if that means half the people are slagging it off and half the people are loving it, that’s great.”

So are these kinds of ads designed to be so unclear that they are talked about solely because of their lack of clarity? Adverts like one spotted two years ago for Ufit protein drinks – “So glad I don’t have a thigh gap, I almost dropped my phone down the toilet” – seem to make that paranoia feel justified. As one Reddit commenter suggested: “I have a theory that Tube ads are intentionally terrible so that you spend longer staring at it trying to work out what is going on.” I certainly stared at “Succumb to the bread crumb” for a long time. Did it make me want KFC more than “Succumb to the crumb” would have?

There is a holy sweet spot, of course, between “Succumb to the bread crumb” and an advert where no one knows what’s happening. “The best press ads always have a degree of obliquity to them,” Sutherland says. “You don’t serve a good advertisement as a hot meal on a plate but you do serve it as what you might call ready to heat. A good ad needs to have that Pot Noodle quality, where most of the ingredients are there but you do have to add boiling water yourself.” Some adverts judge this perfectly. Others – like L’Oreal’s “for make-up that lasts longer than your favourite cheese” – make you so bewildered you’re angry. But, as Watts says, no one remembers 99 per cent of advertising; so is it better to be remembered, however negatively, than leave no trace whatsoever? Many agencies would say yes.

Although it might feel like advertising has become both more opaque and more provocative, Watts doesn’t necessarily agree. He thinks, in fact, that the market has become more risk-averse. “Advertising used to be provocative in the right way,” he says, mentioning the Saatchi and Saatchi campaign for Samaritans which used the line “why you should think more seriously about killing yourself” under an image of a kitchen knife. Today, he says, this advert would be deemed offensive, and a more inoffensive version would be chosen.

Relatedly, copywriting may have fallen down the priority ladder in the industry, being stood on by elements like typography and photography. One of the types of advertising that has died, says Sutherland, is long-copy posters. Brands tended to assume that if people wanted that much information, they could just visit the company’s website. Rarely, of course, can people be bothered to do that. “People have lost faith in the ability of great writing to move people’s hearts and minds,” Sutherland thinks. The erroneous assumption today – conscious or not – is that people don’t have time to read a paragraph of copy.

As well as the indisputable truth that AI can now churn out endless variants on a tagline, putting copywriters out of work in an already saturated market, there is more concrete evidence that copywriters might be less skilled than they used to be. It used to be that you trained as a copywriter or as an art director, Watts explains. Now, “you get creatives, really. Creatives come together and they’re thinking in social [media terms], and they’re thinking in ideas. Nine times out of 10, no one is really brilliant at one thing; they’re kind of good at lots of things. The result of that is that you don’t find that many amazing art directors or copywriters because you don’t really need them in the same way that you used to.” He points to a diminished focus on teaching the art of copywriting, highlighting the 2021 closure of The Watford Course, a creative advertising qualification that condensed everything into a year. “It’s very rare that you need a copywriter to come in and write a beautifully written print ad. That was the job 20, 30 years ago.”

If you believe in the power of great writing, it is difficult to see AI coming up with anything as funny, elegant or charming as “drinka pinta milka day”, “beanz means Heinz”, “you either love it or hate it”. or even, “hi, I’m Barry Scott”. But advertisers will continue to resort to every trick in the book in order to get your attention. In recent years, in the case of Oasis, that involved giving up entirely – or creating a uniquely honest campaign, depending on your point of view: “It’s summer. You’re thirsty. We’ve got sales targets,” read one poster. “Advertising doesn’t work on you. Celebrate this fact with a tasty drink,” read another. The shamelessness of this campaign probably does bring a smile to your lips – something all great copywriters should do, even if they may be struggling more than ever before.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire contestant loses £1m question

A Who Wants to be a Millionaire contestant has been left with one of the biggest losses in the show’s history after getting the £1m question wrong despite using two lifelines.

Nicholas Bennett, a data analyst from West Hampstead in London, raced through the money tree securing a £125,000 safety net before arriving at the final question.

The UK show, presented by former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, provides contestants with four lifelines including: Phone a Friend, Ask the Audience, Ask Jeremy, and 50:50.

Clarkson read out the £1m question: “Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the tale of of a fairytale about three princes?”

Bennett, a University Challenge alum, was tasked with choosing between: A) Pandemonium, B) Serendipity, C) Utopia and D) Yahoo.

He was unsure about the answer and used a lifeline to ask Clarkson who did not know it. He then rang his friend and roommate to use his final lifeline, however she was also unsure.

Sticking with the answer that stood out to him at first Bennett locked in “Yahoo”. But Clarkson revealed that it was wrong as the audience gasped loudly at the loss.

Bennett would have had the option to walk away with £500,000 had he decided to throw the towel in. But his decision to continue playing cost him £375,000. If he had got the answer correct, he would have won an additional £875,000 to his safety net of £125,000.

He responded with optimism but visible disappointment as he said: “Still get £125,000.”

Clarkson said: “What a reaction”, adding he would be on the floor “sobbing” had it been his own loss. “I am so sorry Nicholas, the answer is serendipity.”

The contestant had ruled out the right answer very early on, saying that it sounded like it was derived from another word such as “serene” and did not feel like it originated in a fairytale. The process of elimination led him to pick “Yahoo”, which was revealed as incorrect.

“Oh my giddy aunt. Is that the biggest loss in Millionaire history?” asked Clarkson.

“Serendipity was coined by Horace Walpole of The Three Princes of Serendip,” revealed the host.

Clarkson consoled Bennett by adding: “I don’t think I’ve ever had a contestant I’ve enjoyed more than you.”

Only seven people have won the £1m jackpot on the popular show, which has been running since 1998. Originally presented by Chris Tarrant, ITV axed the programme in 2014 after he announced his departure. It was then revived in 2018 and has been presented by Clarkson ever since.

These birds form life-long friendships just like humans

Almost two decades of research shows strong evidence of long-term friendship among African starlings, a discovery that sheds fresh light on helping behaviour in the animal kingdom.

Animals often help direct blood relatives due to a natural tendency to promote their genes, a phenomenon known as “kin selection”.

Humans routinely deviate from this behaviour and form lifelong friendships with even non-relatives. In the case of animals, though, this kind of cooperation is far harder to establish as it requires collecting and examining large amounts of data over years.

But a new study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that African starlings, a diverse group of birds known for their vibrant colours, do exhibit this kind of long-term friendship.

Drawing on nearly 20 years of observational data, the study concludes that while the starlings do preferentially help their relatives, many also help non-relatives.

“Although we detected kin-biased helping, non-kin helping was common despite opportunities to aid kin,” the study notes.

The non-relative helping behaviour occurs through the formation of reciprocal helping relationships, which tend to take place over many years.

“Starling societies aren’t just simple families, they are much more complex, containing a mixture of related and unrelated individuals that live together, much in the way that humans do,” according to study co-author Dustin Rubenstein.

Researchers studied thousands of interactions between hundreds of African starlings and collected DNA from individual birds to examine their genetic relationships.

Overall, they collected behavioural and genetic data from 40 breeding seasons.

They found that starlings preferentially aided relatives but also consistently helped specific non-relative birds even when relatives were available to help.

“Unexpectedly, specific pairs maintained long-term reciprocal helping relationships by swapping social roles across their lifetimes,” they noted.

The findings challenge the prevalent view of helping in the animal kingdom purely as a form of altruism due to kin selection.

“Our next step is to explore how these relationships form, how long they last, why some relationships stay robust, while others fall apart,” Dr Rubenstein said. “I think this kind of reciprocal helping behaviour is likely going on in a lot of animal societies, and people just haven’t studied them long enough to be able to detect it.”

Gregg Wallace announces new venture after BBC MasterChef scandal

Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has announced a surprising new venture, weeks after misconduct allegations led him to resign from his position on the BBC cooking show.

The 60-year-old TV host was replaced by food critic and I’m a Celebrity star Grace Dent on the programme after it emerged that the presenter was facing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments from 13 people across a range of shows over 17 years.

Wallace has denied the allegations against him. His legal team said in a statement: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”

In a post on X/Twitter on Monday (26 May), the presenter revealed he had trained to be a personal trainer after studying for a qualification for months.

“Over the last few months, I’ve actually been studying for my PT [personal trainer] qualifications,” he began in the video shared to his social media followers.

“So sometime this summer, I will actually be a qualified personal trainer. A PT at 60. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a lot of hard work but I’ve enjoyed it. Not just the exercise stuff but learning about how the body works, the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system as well as what motivates people and nutrition. So I have enjoyed it.”

Wallace explained his next aim in the field saying: “I have worked very hard and I want to carry on learning. Next time, once I’m qualified, I’m going to take a more advanced nutrition course.

“And I’m really throwing myself into health and wellness. Just wanted to share that with you.”

It comes after the star went on a lengthy social media hiatus once the misconduct allegations first emerged in November 2024. Earlier this year he shared a message about “reflection” and “wanting to change”.

In February, the TV chef shared a graphic of one woman offering out a hand to another, who was on her knees praying on the side of a road labelled “change”.

Wallace wrote in the caption: “We often want to change but fear it. We feel comfort in routine, even if that routine is harmful. We shouldn’t be afraid of asking for help.”

Wallace is currently under investigation by the BBC over the allegations, which he has vehemently denied.

Family holiday guide: why the Costa Dorada ticks every travel box

If there’s one thing every parent knows, it’s that children can sometimes (as much as we love them) be hard to please. So the key to any family holiday destination is variety: somewhere you can spend a sunny day by the sea, but where you can also enjoy breathtaking nature, as well as fascinating culture and history.

The brilliant news? The Costa Dorada (known locally as Costa Daurada) delivers all of this in spades, offering everything from theme parks and waterparks to stunning beaches, picturesque hiking and cycling trails, and incredible historical sites. What’s more, with Jet2holidays flying to the Costa Dorada from 12 UK airports and a range of two to five-star accommodation, it’s easy to get your family getaway in the bag. Jet2holidays is always giving you more, to help make planning and booking as smooth as possible. That goes for the PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments** option, 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage for all the kids’ stuff, and return transfers† that are included. Look out for Free Child Places***, while infants under two go free‡.

Here’s what to look forward to on your family getaway…

With 50 miles of coastline and 26 Blue Flag beaches, families are spoilt for choice when it comes to somewhere to pitch up at with a unicorn-shaped inflatable and a bucket and spade. The stretches of soft sand are long and golden, with safe, calm and shallow waters perfect for little ones. And in many places, water sports and beach activities to suit older children.

Some of the most popular seaside resorts include Salou, which houses the charming Platja Llarga, surrounded by a small pine forest. And there’s Cambrils, where you’ll find Platja del Cavet, which boasts a water sports school and open water swimming channel. Vila-seca, la Pineda Platja, is known for its nearly two miles of fine, champagne-sand beach, fronted by a long promenade, while Tarragona has a range of fantastic options, including Platja del Miracle in the heart of the city. There, you’ll find a great range of bars and restaurants and Platja de la Savinosa, a quieter beach enveloped by imposing cliffs. Many of these can be reached by easy coastal paths.

Another advantage of the Costa Dorada is its many theme parks and waterparks. For a real all-rounder, head to PortAventura World in Vila-seca, la Pineda Platja, a three-in-one park that’s one of Europe’s largest. Here you can enjoy everything from thrilling rollercoasters, rides (don’t miss Dragon Khan, which reaches over 68 miles per hour) and live entertainment. Then pop your swimmers on to enjoy waterfalls, pools and beaches at Caribe Aquatic Park. After you’ve had fun splashing around, head to Ferrari Land, which has a range of spectacular attractions that will make you feel like a real F1 driver.

Get even more thrills at nearby Aquopolis Costa Dorada. It has a range of attractions for all ages, from toddler-friendly and gentle – like the Mini-Park playground and Treasure Island – to more high-octane rides, such as the Boomerang, a speedy waterslide. Or there’s the Kamikaze that older kids will love. Alternatively, Náutic Park offers a range of fun activities and experiences spanning a coastal area of nearly 60 miles including those in Salou, Cambrils, Vandellós – l’Hospitalet de l’Infant and Mont-roig – Miami Platja. Whether you want to rent a sailing boat for the day, try a water bike or even take part in an escape room on the beach, Nàutic Park has it all.

Finally, Aqualeon, near Tarragona, has plenty of enjoyable rides and slides too. The Rapid River is fun for all the family, where you’ll feel like you’re gently ‘flying’ over the water. All the while, the Crazy Race pits you against grown-ups and siblings to see who can get down the slide first. Do you dare to ride the Anaconda? Featuring two intertwined tubes, it’s suitable only for the bravest…

Getting the kids out into the fresh air can sometimes feel like a struggle, but when the scenery in the Costa Dorada is this beautiful, nobody will feel it’s a hardship. Head inland to the striking Prades Mountains, which has a wealth of hiking and cycling trails in the area. These are filled with quaint villages and jaw-dropping viewpoints, where you can get active, immerse yourself in nature, and explore the distinctive, rocky landscape. Don’t miss the Gorgs route, near La Febro, known for its scenic natural pools and waterfalls.

For fascinating grottoes and gorges, head to Serra de Montsant Natural Park, which has dozens of walking trails which offer spectacular views. Back at ground level, in Cambrils, Parc Samà is a lovely botanical garden where kids will enjoy visiting the aviary, filled with exotic birds, as well as looking out for the deer, pheasants and peacocks which also call this place home.

With its rich history, there are stacks of captivating sights in the Costa Dorada that will grab your kids’ imaginations. Take them back to Roman times at archaeological sites, such as the amphitheatre of Tarragona; it was used for fights between wild beasts, races and gladiatorial combat. All these are brought excitingly to life by guided tours and interactive exhibits. Children will also love walking the Roman walls, and exploring the Circus and Forum, with the open-air setting making for the ultimate mix of education and adventure.

In a quiet spot at the end of a valley, nestled under the Montsant hills, you’ll find Cartoixa d’Escaladei (see main image), a 12th-century monastery founded by French monks at a site where a shepherd had dreamt of angels coming down from the sky. Here you can enjoy guided tours around its three cloisters, church and refectory, while learning the history and purpose of each building.

Finally, stoke their creativity with a visit to the Gaudí Centre in Reus, where the architect Antoni Gaudí was born. It offers an interactive and engaging experience that brings his genius to life in a way that appeals to all ages. You’ll find real objects related to him, detailed mock-ups of his iconic works, and a special effects room that immerses visitors in his groundbreakingly imaginative world.

With Jet2holidays, it’s a doddle to book your family getaway to the Costa Dorada. From a low £60 per person deposit* to PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments**, 22kg baggage for all the kids’ stuff to return transfers†, it’s all included. Families can make the most of Free Child Places*** and infants under two going free‡. And with flights included and the choice of two to five-star hotels, Jet2holidays is always giving you more. For more Costa Dorada travel inspiration, and to find and book your ultimate family holiday, visit Jet2holidays. Plus, right now, myJet2 members can save £100 per person§ in The Big Jet2 Price Drop (correct at original publish date).

*On bookings made ten weeks or more before departure. Full payment required by balance due date. **Spread the cost over three interest-free payments. Available when booked online, for holidays under £2,000, departing within ten weeks. ***One free child place per two paying passengers. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#FCP2025 for further details. †Unless otherwise stated. ‡Applicable for all infants under the age of two years on the date of return. Infants are not entitled to a flight seat (they must be seated with a parent or guardian) or a 22kg baggage allowance. §£100 per person off holidays for myJet2 members departing until 15 November 2026. myJet2 members will need to be logged into their account at the time of booking for the discount to automatically apply. Book online, via our app, through our call centre or with your travel agent. Please note the discount is not applied to children travelling on a free child place. Terms and conditions apply, please see www.jet2holidays.com/promotions#100APRIL2025 for details.

Gaza rescue official and journalist among 52 killed in Israeli strikes

Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza killed 52 people and injured dozens, according to local health officials, as the military continued its onslaught on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Children were among at least 36 killed as Israeli forces targeted a school housing displaced people in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City on Sunday, health officials said. Images circulating on social media showed badly burned bodies lying in the destroyed school.

A senior rescue service official and a journalist were killed in separate strikes on Khan Younis in the south, Jabalia in the north and Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.

Journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda and several of his family members were killed after Israeli forces struck his house in Jabalia on Sunday.

His death took the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Israel’s war on Gaza to 220, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Strip.

Ashraf Abu Nar, a senior official in the Gazan civil emergency service, and his wife were killed in the Nuseirat airstrike.

Yaqeen Hammad, an 11-year-old social media celebrity, was also killed in the Israeli raids, Al Jazeera reported. Children account for 31 per cent of Palestinians killed in Israel’s nearly two-year-long offensive on Gaza, the health ministry said.

Israel stepped up its military operations in the territory in early May saying it was seeking to eliminate Hamas‘s military and governing capabilities and bring back the remaining hostages who were taken in October 2023.

Gaza’s medics said Israel had taken control of around 77 per cent of the territory either through ground forces or evacuation orders and bombardments that kept residents away from their homes.

Despite mounting international pressure on Israel to lift a blockade on aid supplies in the face of warnings of looming famine, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that Israel was determined to control the whole of Gaza.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres last week sounded the alarm over “atrocious levels of death and destruction” by Israel in Gaza while warning that Israeli forces were allowing “a teaspoon of aid” into Gaza.

COGAT, the Israeli defence body overseeing aid for Gaza, said 107 trucks of aid entered Sunday, about a sixth of the 600 trucks that entered the embattled territory during the ceasefire earlier this year.

Israel blocked all food, medicine and fuel from entering Gaza for almost three months before letting a small number of aid trucks enter last week after warnings about famine and pressure from some of Israel’s top allies.

“Palestinians in Gaza are enduring what may be the cruelest phase of this cruel conflict,” the UN secretary general said on Friday.

Israel’s military said in a statement that chief of staff Eyal Zamir visited soldiers in Khan Younis on Sunday and told them that “this is not an endless war” and that Hamas had lost most of its assets, including its command and control.

“We will deploy every tool at our disposal to bring the hostages home, dismantle Hamas and dismantle its rule,” he was quoted as saying.

The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said in separate statements on Sunday that their fighters carried out several ambushes and attacks using bombs and antitank rockets against Israeli forces operating across Gaza.

Israel launched a ground and air assault on Gaza after nearly 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas raid into southern Israel in October 2023.

Israel has since killed more than 53,900 Palestinians, according to the local health authorities, left the territory in ruins and pushed nearly all of its two million residents from their homes.

UK ‘will ask Kosovo’ to take failed asylum seekers

The UK is reportedly set to ask Kosovo to take failed asylum seekers as part of plans to open overseas “return hubs” for migrants.

Kosovo has been put on a list of nine countries that are seen as potential locations for the hubs, The Times has reported.

The “returns hubs” would house asylum seekers after they have exhausted all their rights to appeal for sanctuary in the UK. They would then be deported back to their home country from these hubs.

Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, has already said that the country would be open to discuss housing the UK’s failed asylum seekers.

She said last week: “There’s been no formal talks with the UK on this issue. It hasn’t been raised so far. We would be open to discussing it, however I can’t say more than that because I don’t know the details.

“I cannot give an answer on a request that hasn’t been made so far”.

The prime minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, also said last week that his country had not yet been formally approached by the UK for the scheme.

According to The Times, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are on the shortlist of countries that the UK is eyeing up. There are also reportedly some countries outside of Europe on the list.

The paper reported that the UK wants to have begun talks on the scheme before a meeting of western Balkan leaders in London in autumn.

Almost 22,000 people were recorded using the Western Balkans to travel irregularly into Europe last year, according to the Foreign Office.

Foreign secretary David Lammy travelled to Kosovo and Serbia in early April. He said parts of the western Balkans “have become a major transit route for irregular migration and serious organised crime”.

Sir Keir Starmer raised the idea of “returns hubs” during the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania. He told reporters that such hubs were not “a silver bullet in and of themselves”, but would be “a very important additional tool in our armoury”.

He said he had had “discussions about return hubs” with leaders at the summit. However Albanian prime minister Edi Rama ruled out being a host to the UK scheme, saying an equivalent measure introduced for the Italian government was a one-off.