Barge for 500 migrants towed to Falmouth for refit

A barge owed to location 500 antheral migrants volition beryllium towed into a Cornish larboard later.

The Bibby Stockholm, from Italy, is owed to dock successful Falmouth astatine astir 08:00 BST, up of an inspection and refit work.

The barge volition yet beryllium based astatine Portland Port, disconnected the coastal municipality of Weymouth, and utilized to location azygous men portion they hold for their asylum claims to beryllium processed.

It volition run for astatine slightest 18 months, the Home Office said.

The plans person been criticised by section groups, exile charities and Conservative MP Richard Drax, who said "every action" was being looked at", including a ineligible case.

The Home Office has said the vas would beryllium "significantly cheaper" than hotels.

Refugee groups person called the program "completely inadequate", portion councillors from the section country - which is fashionable with tourists - person opposed the proposals.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick person some been instrumental successful the plans.

Mr Sunak antecedently said the barge was "part of our broader program to halt the boats".

Nearly 4,000 radical person arrived connected the southbound seashore truthful acold this twelvemonth aft crossing the Channel successful tiny boats.

The usage of the Bibby Stockholm volition people the archetypal clip migrants person been housed successful a berthed vas successful the UK.

On Tuesday, the Home Office said the Bibby Stockholm would acquisition inspection, refurbishment and attraction successful Falmouth but would not beryllium utilized to location asylum seekers there.

The BBC has asked the Home Office however agelong the barge volition stay successful Falmouth.

In a statement, Mr Jenrick said the usage of costly hotels to location an "unprecedented number" of asylum seekers crossing the Channel had to end.

He said determination were much than 51,000 asylum seekers successful hotels costing the payer £6m a day.

"This is wherefore we volition beryllium utilizing alternate accommodation options which are much manageable for communities, arsenic our European neighbours are doing - including the usage of barges to prevention the British payer money," helium added.

"We are continuing to enactment intimately with the councils and cardinal partners to negociate immoderate interaction successful Falmouth and Portland and that due arrangements are successful place."