Labour says they would keep asylum seeker barges if they gained power
The shadow immigration minister said Labour would ‘have no choice’ but to house asylum seekers in barges in order to deal with the ‘mess we inherit’ from the Tories.
Stephen Kinnock said the idea made him ‘deeply unhappy’ as it was the last thing they wanted to do.
They would also continue to use controversial military camps to house asylum seekers if Labour wins the next general election.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Kinnock said: ‘Over the last 13 years, the Tory government has destroyed our asylum system. We’ll inherit a mess if we are privileged to win the next election.
‘The reality is, on day one we will have to deal with the we have and the shambolic mess they have left us. We’ll be left with no choice but to deal with the mess we inherit.’
He also told BBC Breakfast he was confident a Labour government would get on top of the backlog within six months – but refused to give a timeline on how long it would take them to stop using the barges.
Mr Kinnock also accused the government of ‘cooking the books’ to make it seem like they’re getting a grip on the asylum backlog.
He claimed: ‘They have been artificially withdrawing claims if someone misses an appointment.
‘It doesn’t mean they’ve been processed, it just puts people into limbo. Then essentially people are just slipping into the underground economy.’
More than 6,000 people have been wiped off the list without being fully assessed in three months, the Independent reports. Reasons include failing to attend interviews, and not filling in new fast-track questionnaires.
Checks are still ongoing at the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge, currently moored in Dorset, after concerns about fire safety were raised.
Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden said the first group of asylum seekers are set to be housed there within ‘weeks’ – but would not give a more specific timeline.
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