The first migrants have been loaded onto the Bibby Stockholm boat today, to the dismay of many people.
Up to 500 men, aged 18-65, will be housed on the three-storey barge while they await the outcome of their asylum application.
Safety fears
The floating accommodation block was docked off the Dorset coast nearly three weeks ago, and has been empty since due to health and safety worries.
On Aug 2nd the Fire Brigades Union sent a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to raise their conerns.
They shared their message on social media and wrote: “We have written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to ask for a meeting about our safety concerns on the Bibby Stockholm. As the union representing the overwhelming majority of firefighters, we are driven by the need to prevent loss of life and protect public safety.”
Bibby Stockholm
Local activists have turned up to the barge and help ‘welcome’ signs up.
“It’s really simple: Deal with the backlog. More people claimed asylum in 2002 than in 2022, but we didn’t have this. They’re not dealing with their claims. That’s why they have to house them,” wrote the Best for Britain account.
Labour’s stance?
Sky’s Jayne Secker said that Labour are saying they wouldn’t stop housing people on the Bibby Stockholm.
However, Ian Dunt defended Labour saying: “I don’t understand what else they could have possibly said… b/c if they say on the 1st day we’re going to empty all the barges… we know that’s not true or practical.”
The Peace & Justice Project project wrote: “This is a day of great shame on our government and all who have supported this dangerous, cruel and dehumanising policy. Let’s build a migration system based on care, compassion and dignity. No floating prisons.”
Does this comment chime with you?
The deputy leader of Green Party wrote: “Every time you think the Conservatives have sunk as far as they can go – they find yet more space to be inhumane. Bibby Stockholm is a stain on our entire society – and an urgent call for any politician calling themselves “progressive” to unequivocally condemn it.”
He also said this earlier today…
He wrote: “Keir Starmer is right that oil and gas licences are not compatible with the future of a planet. Keir Starmer is very wrong when he tries to explain 100 new oil and gas licences are fine though – “because of investor certainty!?!!?” What’s the point of Labour?”
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