‘Political cowardice’: Jeremy Corbyn hits out at Labour place on migrant barges

Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “political cowardice” after the celebration mentioned it will proceed to briefly home asylum seekers on barges if it wins the subsequent election.

The former Labour chief described using vessels as “morally indefensible”.

It comes because the first asylum seekers arrived on the controversial Bibby Stockholm vessel in Dorset this morning, with extra arrivals anticipated all through the day.

The barge is one in every of various various websites the Home Office is utilizing to finish reliance on costly motels for asylum seekers, which the federal government says is costing the taxpayer £6m a day.

On Sunday, Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock admitted Labour would have “no choice” but to continue to use the alternative sites owing to the “mess” it will inherit from the Conservatives – however mentioned the celebration would attempt to transfer asylum seekers out of motels, barges and navy camps as “quickly as possible”.

International Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds reiterated Labour’s place this morning, telling Sky News: “We have to address the situation that we inherit, but our policy is to drive the backlog down so we don’t have to use the barges, we don’t have to use the bases, we don’t have to use the hotels.

“It’s not a query of reducing expectations – it is a query of being open and upfront with the British public concerning the chaos that we’re going to inherit, but additionally the course that we then wish to go in, which is greatest for these individuals trapped within the system but additionally greatest worth for the taxpayer too.”

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But Mr Corbyn informed Sky News: “Forcing human beings who’ve escaped struggle and persecution to dwell on unsafe and overcrowded jail ships is morally indefensible.

“So too is the failure to offer a more humane alternative.

“These are human beings who’re legally and legitimately exercising their proper to asylum. We ought to be defending, not denigrating, that proper.

“Political cowardice has consequences – and vulnerable people will pay the highest price.”

He added: “That’s why I’m proud to stand alongside people in my constituency campaigning for an immigration system based on dignity and care.”

So far no backbench Labour MPs have spoken out publicly consistent with Mr Corbyn, who had the party whip removed in 2020.

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There has been appreciable native opposition to the Bibby Stockholm as a consequence of issues concerning the asylum seekers’ welfare and the influence on native providers.

Charities have additionally raised issues about whether or not such websites are appropriate for these searching for asylum.

Natasha Tsangarides, affiliate director of advocacy at Freedom from Torture, mentioned: “Cruel accommodation schemes like barges and tents are wholly inappropriate for people who have fled torture and war.”

Sky News has approached the Labour Party for touch upon Mr Corbyn’s remarks.

Mr Corbyn spoke as questions stay over his political future and whether or not he intends to remain on because the MP for Islington North, a constituency he has represented since 1983.

The former chief was suspended from the parliamentary party in October 2020 over his response to a damning report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into how antisemitism complaints had been dealt with underneath his management.

Should Mr Corbyn want to stay because the MP for Islington North he must run for one more celebration or as an impartial. While he has dropped strategies that he could do the latter, he has not been specific about his intentions.

Immediately after the publication of the antisemitism report, Mr Corbyn claimed “the scale of the problem” in Labour was “dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents”.

On turning into celebration chief, Sir Keir promised to “tear out antisemitism” from Labour.

In March he barred Mr Corbyn from standing for Labour on the subsequent election after proposing a profitable movement to the celebration’s ruling physique, the National Executive Committee, that it mustn’t endorse his predecessor to battle for his Islington North seat.