18 August 2023 , 16:00
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London's mayor has told ministers that the capital will be a no-go area for asylum barges as his war of words with the Home Secretary escalates.
Sadiq Khan fumed: “I want to be clear to ministers – these barges are not welcome in London, and they shouldn’t be used anywhere in the UK." It comes during a bitter dispute with top Tory Suella Braverman over plans to move people onto a vessel on the Royal Docks in east London, which Mr Khan has vowed to oppose.
He told The Mirror he will fight any Government effort to use barges in the capital following the Bibby Stockholm debacle, which saw dozens of asylum seekers evacuated after deadly bacteria was found in Dorset. He said: “When the Government announced plans for these barges I said they were cruel and inhumane, and posed a major health risk to very vulnerable people.
"It is simply a disgrace that the Government insisted on moving people into these vessels when the authorities knew they were testing for legionella in the water system. It shows a callous disregard for human safety."
The Bibby Stockholm barge is currently sitting empty in Dorset (Getty Images)And Mr Khan added: “London has a proud history of providing sanctuary for those seeking refuge. Ministers need to completely rethink their plans as a matter of urgency, and support asylum seekers humanely and with dignity.”
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The London Mayor has clashed with the Home Office over proposals to force asylum seekers onto a barge in the King George V dock. There have been widespread calls to abandon the use of these vessels after Legionella bacteria was found on the 500-capacity Bibby Stockholm, which is currently sitting empty in Portland, Dorset.
In a letter to Ms Braverman earlier this year Mr Khan branded her plans an "extension of the Government’s failed 'hostile environment’ approach to migration". Ms Braverman shot back that the cost of housing asylum seekers is above £7million a day due to massive backlogs.
She wrote: "All accomodation provided to asylum seekers, including vessels, will meet our legal obligations. The Home Office continues to work closely with key local stakeholders to address concerns and minimise any potential impacts on the local area."
Rishi Sunak has said he hopes to move people back onto the Bibby Stockholm as soon as possible, and No10 has said discussions are ongoing about other sites across the UK that can be used for barges.
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