Arrival of first asylum seekers on Bibby Stockholm barge delayed

Asylum seekers is not going to be moved on to the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge on Tuesday as deliberate after final minute conferences responding to fireplace security issues, Sky News understands.

However, there’s nonetheless a chance that they could possibly be moved on to the barge – which is at the moment docked in Portland on the coast of Dorset – later this week.

The first asylum seekers had been initially as a result of transfer on to the barge final week, however Sky News reported that their arrival had been pushed back until Tuesday this week.

The Times reported that severe security issues had been raised concerning the facility and that approval from the hearth service was excellent.

One supply instructed the paper of fears that the vessel might turn into a “floating Grenfell” – a reference to the hearth that broke out on the west London tower block in 2017, killing 72 individuals.

Sunak defends oil and gas policy – as rift opens in Tory party – politics latest

Following experiences of a delay, a Home Office spokesperson stated the vessel was “undergoing final preparations to ensure it complies with all appropriate regulations before the arrival of the first asylum seekers”.

“This is part of the government’s plan to reduce the use of expensive hotels and offer alternative accommodation that is more manageable and better value for communities, just like our European neighbours are already doing,” they added.

“We continue to work closely with Dorset and Portland councils, as well as the local NHS and police services, to manage any impact in Portland, including providing substantial funding to local services, to address the local community’s concerns.”

The 222-bedroom barge will begin housing 50 single males initially earlier than housing as much as 500 people who find themselves at the moment staying in lodges.

The Bibby Stockholm can have 24-hour safety and accommodate single males solely, who will sleep in bunk beds with between two and 6 individuals per en suite room.

The barge has attracted a backlash from Tory MPs, together with Richard Drax, who represents South Dorset, and Chris Loder, for West Dorset, who has demanded to see safety reports and claimed it will home double the quantity of individuals it’s designed to carry.

Ben Selby, the assistant basic secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, additionally criticised what he referred to as “a reckless approach to the safety and well-being of both vulnerable refugees and firefighters”.

“The Home Office has declared that this plan is a cheaper option for housing asylum seekers,” he stated.

“This is a damning indictment of the prevailing attitude that saving money is the highest priority, with people’s lives treated as collateral damage.

“Everyone has the suitable to dwell in protected lodging and we again the calls urging these plans are deserted instantly.”

The Bibby Stockholm is only one of a lot of various websites the federal government has positioned to finish using lodges, which is costing the taxpayer round £6m a day.

As properly because the barge, the Home Office additionally plans to maneuver individuals into disused navy websites – together with RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and Wethersfield Airfield in Essex – and into marquees.

However, the plans to maneuver 2,000 asylum seekers to RAF Scampton have additionally hit a stumbling block till October, after there have been setbacks in conducting surveys on the 14 buildings designated for migrant lodging.

Read extra from Sky News:
‘Routine’ housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful, High Court rules
Suella Braverman gives police ‘full support’ to ramp up use of stop and search

Asked concerning the delay on Monday, the prime minister’s press secretary stated: “Work is ongoing to open [the] site at Scampton and we want that work to be done as soon as possible.

“I can not get into working commentary on anticipated timelines however finally the positioning will accommodate nearly 2,000 individuals.”

The Times also reported that more migrants will be moved into accommodation at Wethersfield Airfield despite a number of positive results for tuberculosis being detected at the site.

Last week separate plans by the home secretary, Suella Braverman, to accommodate thousands of migrants in marquees at disused military sites were criticised as “staggering” and “merciless” by critics.

The tents will begin to be erected over the approaching weeks as a part of emergency plans to take care of an anticipated surge of Channel crossings over the following few months.

A supply from the Home Office confirmed to Sky News that the tents could possibly be up and working to accommodate migrants inside weeks.