Middlesbrough asylum barge a 'prison ship', says Labour MP

Labour MP for Stockton North, Alex Cunningham, brought up the issue twice this week in Parliament that would see 1,000 migrants housed on the site of the Tees Port.

Writing to both Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, Mr Cunningham has asked for clarity on any such proposals to moor a barge on Teesside after they were suggested on June 6.

Read more: Asylum barge plan ‘unworkable’, critics say after Braverman’s missed target

Likening conditions to a “prison ship” the Stockton North MP is now said to be planning a series of ministerial questions on the matter, after Mr Jenrick vehemently denied the plans in Parliament on Monday, June 26.

Mr Cunningham said: “Apart from the fact right-minded people can never condone housing people in such conditions, the Minister is missing the point.

“The Government promised councils in the North East that it would not further increase the number of dispersed asylum seekers – but now Ministers have shifted the goal posts to allow for a barge which could mean substantial stress on local services as more asylum seekers arrive.

He added: “The government broke the asylum seeker system years ago and instead of developing these hair-brained ‘solutions’ they should be concentrating on dealing with the hundreds of thousands of outstanding asylum applications and then deporting those who are refused leave to remain.”

In response to Mr Cunningham, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick stated in a letter that the Government is working to secure “alternative large-scale sites” that would be “appropriate” to house asylum seekers.

However, the minister also states that whilst the Home Office promised North East councils that additional asylum seekers would not be housed in the region, accommodation on Teesside Port is an exception to that rule.

Mr Jenrick wrote: “The commitment made by the Home Office that additional asylum seekers would not be placed in the North East until other areas have met their requirements still stands in terms of dispersal accommodation. However, large accommodation sites such as Teesside Port do not fall under this statement.

“I can assure you that the berthing of any vessel will be subject to health and safety provisions and legislation, including the proximity of blast zones relating to nitram and ammonia plants.”

Throughout the ongoing dialogue, PD Ports, the authority that would need to permit to house the barge off the coast of Middlesbrough have repeatedly denied such plans and claim they have not been contacted by the Government.

A spokesperson said: “To date, PD Ports has not received any communication from the Government about the potential for a barge to be docked at Teesport, either as the operator of our own commercial operations or in our role as Statutory Harbour Authority.

“We cannot see a situation in which public services would be able to provide the appropriate support for such accommodation. It simply would not be viable to facilitate any such accommodation to dock at one of our berths, which are in constant operation and have heavily restricted access for health and safety reasons.”

On June 6, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a conference in Kent discussing the Government ‘stop the boats’ pledge where ideas of a barge on Teesside first emerged.

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At the PM’s conference in Kent, Mr Sunak stated the barges, which will house up to 1,000 people each, is part of a plan to stop small boat crossings – a plan he claims is “starting to work”.

The Prime Minister has previously responded to critics by stating the housing is “fair and compassionate”, arguing that local hotels are being “taken over” to house illegal asylum seekers.

On June 6, The Northern Echo contacted The Home Office who did not confirm or deny the plans for a barge on Teesside following the Prime Minister’s conference.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow and requires us to look at a range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels. 

“This is why we continue to source new alternative sites and vessels to accommodate migrants, which are more manageable for communities, as our European neighbours are doing.”