First asylum seekers arrive on Bibby Stockholm barge

Some of the primary group of asylum seekers have boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge with extra arrivals anticipated at the moment, Sky News understands.

Around 50 folks have been anticipated to maneuver on to the vessel, docked in Portland Port in Dorset, on Monday following weeks of delays.

The Bibby Stockholm is one in all quite a few different websites the Home Office is utilizing to finish reliance on costly accommodations for asylum seekers, which the federal government says is costing £6m a day.

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The 222-bedroom vessel will in the end maintain 500 single males, with Home Office minister Sarah Dines suggesting the lodging might attain full capability by the tip of the week.

Earlier on Monday, she advised Sky News the barge “sends a forceful message” that individuals who cross the Channel will likely be housed in lodging that’s “proper…but not luxury” – claiming accommodations are a part of the “pull” issue attracting folks to the UK.

But there was appreciable native opposition to the plan because of issues in regards to the asylum seekers’ welfare and the impression on native providers.

Labour has mentioned the barges shouldn’t be vital, calling on the federal government to get a grip of the backlog of asylum functions that are over 100,000.

Alongside the barge, the federal government needs to accommodate folks in military sites and marquees.

Multiple experiences have additionally prompt the federal government is re-visiting plans for a processing centre in Ascension Island within the South Atlantic Ocean if the long-touted Rwanda deportation scheme will not be profitable within the courts.

Ms Dines wouldn’t verify or deny the plan however mentioned the federal government was “looking at all options”.

This week is the federal government’s unofficial “small boats week”, the place it needs to speak about its efforts to get a grip on the variety of folks crossing the English Channel on a small boat.