In a setback for the government United kingdomTwo cruise ships bought to accommodate asylum seekers have been returned to their owners after they failed to find a place to dock at the ports of Edinburgh and Liverpool after being turned away by terminal operators.
Ships that were supposed to accommodate 1,000 applicants seek refuge, It is part of a controversial plan to use cruise ships as temporary accommodation to house illegal immigrants intercepted in the English Channel, according to Sky News television.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the government’s decision to go ahead with the project, citing the high hotel bills borne by the British state to pay for accommodation for those who arrive at the hotel. United kingdom in the unstable boats crossing the English Channel worth up to six million pounds sterling a day.
Apart from these two boats, a third barge, named Bibby Stockholm, with a capacity of 500 people, managed to dock in Dorset, in the south-west.
It weighs 10,659 tons, is 93.44 meters long and 27.43 meters wide and was built in 1976. It carries the flag of Barbados and in 1992 it became a residence barge.
The boat’s arrival sparked violent protests and clashes between immigrant rights groups, who called the boat stays inhumane, while some local residents and anti-immigration groups expressed concerns about security and depleted resources.
Watch Bibby Stockholm’s video
Asked about the return of the ships, a Sunak spokesperson said discussions were continuing on the provision of additional accommodation facilities and sites.
Port operators in Liverpool and Edinburgh rejected the government’s plans. Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day objected to what he described as a “floating prison” for the applicants seek refuge.
Similar problems arose on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, where Baby Stockholm’s arrival sparked confrontations between protesters opposed to her presence.
Meanwhile, the Home Office has pledged to continue to explore all options available to provide asylum seekers with accommodation that is better value for British taxpayers than expensive hotels.
However, it has not been confirmed how much the government paid the boats before they were returned to their owners.
The government has expressed concern about the increasing volume of small boats arriving in the country, arguing that it has caused a steady increase in the number of asylum applications awaiting processing by the Ministry of the Interior. According to official data, at the end of 2022, on December 31, there were a total of 132,200 basic applicants awaiting a preliminary decision on their asylum application.
Earlier this week, the British Parliament passed a controversial immigration law which aims to stem the flow of migrants arriving in the UK illegally and denying them the option to apply. seek refuge.
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