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The statement made by Mr. Anderson, a senior Tory, has been supported by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who referred to it as “salty language.” The comment was in response to the first 15 migrants boarding a barge in Dorset, while 20 others were granted reprieve due to legal challenges.
The organization Care4Calais stated that the migrants did not board the barge because their transfers were canceled after lawyers challenged the decisions. They described the barge as a “quasi floating prison.” Mr. Anderson’s statement suggested that if the migrants dislike the barges, they should return to France or not come at all.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk defended Mr. Anderson’s comment, stating that although it was “salty” language, his point was not unreasonable. Going further, Mr. Chalk expressed that the deputy Tory chair reflects the righteous indignation of the British people, with his indignation being well-founded.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused the government of fueling division and hate, and Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael found Mr. Chalk’s defense of Mr. Anderson’s remarks unsettling. Georgie Laming from the Hope not Hate group labeled it morally reprehensible and saw it as part of the Conservative party’s adoption of dangerous and divisive tactics.
Initially, the Home Office attempted to transfer disabled asylum-seekers, torture victims, and individuals with traumatic experiences at sea to the Portland barge. However, lawyers successfully challenged the transfer orders issued to individuals, including those with sight impairments and water-related phobias.
Conservative members on the right-wing expressed anger over the delays caused by these legal challenges. Priti Patel, former Home Secretary, claimed that campaigners and lawyers were exploiting the legal aid system.
Refusing to leave hotels and board the barge may result in a delay or withdrawal of asylum applications, with the government providing a 24-hour grace period for reconsideration. Mr. Chalk deemed the asylum-seekers’ legal challenges as not improper but as completely misconceived. Additionally, he stated that it is unlikely for the government to be in violation of the law by refusing accommodation to asylum-seekers who decline to go on the barge.
Currently, only 15 migrants have arrived, out of the government’s goal of housing 500 people on board. Home Office Minister Sarah Dines initially suggested that all 500 individuals could be on the barge by the end of the week, but that idea was later downplayed by No 10.
Migrants Organise has sent a pre-action letter to the Home Office urging them to cease transfers until concerns regarding the safety and suitability of the barge are adequately addressed. The internal guidelines state that only single men up to the age of 65, who are not victims of modern slavery or trafficking and do not have disabilities or a history of torture, rape, or violence, can be accommodated on the Bibby Stockholm.
Mr. Chalk acknowledged the frustration surrounding the limited number of migrants boarding the 500-capacity barge thus far but reassured that it does not diminish their resolve to resolve the issue. He also clarified that the purpose of the austere Bibby Stockholm is to act as a deterrent, as the British people reportedly do not support the government’s daily expenditure of £6m on 4-star hotel accommodations for asylum-seekers.
However, campaign groups estimate that the barge will cost £18m per year, potentially surpassing the cost of housing migrants in hotels. This controversy coincides with the British government’s establishment of a new task force to identify fraudulent lawyers amid reports of false asylum claims being submitted for a fee. Home Secretary Suella Braverman emphasized the need to root out and bring crooked lawyers to justice, with potential penalties of life imprisonment under the Nationality and Borders Act.
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