The UK government plans to place migrants pending asylum applications on specially prepared ferries and military bases to end the use of hotels for accommodation. The decision could be announced next week.

In total, more than 51,000 irregular migrants are currently housed in hotels across the UK, which costs the government more than £5m per day.

“We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options” – a Home Office spokesperson said.

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1639544703975837699?s=20

The previous proposal to use holiday camps and student halls is unlikely to be brought into use. Under the new plans, asylum seekers will be moved into “decent but rudimentary” accommodation.

Among other places that are to be used as asylum centres, there are two former air bases, RAF Scampton in county Lincolnshire and MDP Wethersfield in Braintree in Essex. However, work is currently underway to ensure these facilities are appropriate for this function.

Although, it has been criticised by locals, politicians and historians.

About 1,500 asylum seekers could be housed at the now disused RAF Scampton – the former home of The Red Arrows aerobatics display team and the Dambusters – the squadron that carried out one of the Second World War’s most famous air raids.

Migrants’ Rights Network expressed its dissatisfaction, calling it on Twitter „An inhumane measure by the Home Office. Placing people who are seeking safety in military accommodation and disused ferries will mean more misery, trauma and further isolation from the communities who want to support and welcome them.”

The move follows the government’s controversial decision to host asylum seekers in army barracks during the pandemic, including in Penally in Wales.

Liz Saville Roberts, the group leader of Plaid Cymru in the House of Commons, said that the government had „learned nothing from their failures”.

„Inspectors described the Penally barracks in Pembrokeshire as impoverished, run-down and unsuitable. (…) Penally was thankfully shut down and people were moved to more appropriate accommodations. (…) Reports of plans to move asylum seekers to army bases within weeks shows yet again that this Tory government is driven by cruelty not policy outcomes.”

Author: Patrycja Bodzek-Kurzyńska

 Photo: Peter Nicholls / Reuters