First migrant mega-barge still not ready to house asylum seekers amid safety checks, admits Rishi Sunak
THE first migrant mega-barge is still not ready to house asylum seekers, the PM admitted yesterday.
Rishi Sunak said the Bibby Stockholm must go through a series of checks on safety before small boat arrivals can set foot on board.
When the barge was confirmed in June, the PM said it would be weeks before the first migrants arrived — but now the scheme has been kicked back once more, amid reports the vessel has yet to pass fire service safety checks.
The first 50 asylum seekers were due to arrive on the barge at Portland Port in Dorset yesterday.
But Mr Sunak confirmed the delay at the Great British Beer Festival in London.
He said: “All migrant accommodation has to go through checks and inspections to ensure it complies with regulation — that’s what’s happening in this case.”
He added he wanted to end the unfairness of taxpayers’ £6million- a-day bill to house migrants in hotels.
Transport minister Richard Holden said he could not put a time frame on when the barge would finally hold its intended 500 male asylum seekers.
New analysis shows the average number of people coming over per boat has now reached 52 in July, as sick people smugglers try and shove more in.
Last year’s average was 28. Some 14,732 have come over in small boats this year alone.
—