The UK government’s proposal to use a big cruise ship to accommodate 500 asylum-seeking males near Liverpool has been abandoned after port officials rejected the plan. The choice by Peel Ports has halted the Home Office’s efforts to create a seventh site for housing migrants as a half of a wider crackdown on unlawful immigration.
The rejection follows a similar determination by London’s Royal Docks, which knowledgeable the Home Office final month that it will not allow a barge for housing asylum seekers to be moored near City Airport. Unbelievable , managing director of London’s Royal Docks, stated: “After investigation, it was concluded that this is in a position to not be an acceptable use for the Royal Docks.”
The use of barges and former military barracks is part of the government’s strategy to discourage migrants from making an attempt dangerous Channel crossings in small boats and to reduce the £6m every day expenditure on motels. However, charities and opposition MPs have criticised these plans, urging the federal government to concentrate on lowering the backlog of asylum seekers.
Conservative MPs have additionally expressed opposition to the websites being operated in their areas. Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, described the vessel scheduled to dock in his constituency within the coming weeks as “nothing more than a quasi-prison.”