LONDON: Britain’s new Labour government will end the use of the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge to house migrants off the south coast of England as part of its overhaul of the asylum system, it said on Tuesday.
Use of the vessel, which can house up to 500 men, began under the Conservative government with the aim of cutting the 8 million pounds a day cost of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers while their claims are processed.
The Bibby Stockholm, anchored off Dorset, became a high-profile symbol of Britain’s tough asylum policy under the Conservatives, with human rights campaigners comparing it to a prison ship and criticizing its use as inhumane.
One man died on board last year and a separate water contamination issue forced the government to remove migrants for a number of weeks.
Britain’s Home Office, or interior ministry, said use of the barge would end once its contract expires in January.
The move is part of Labour’s efforts to overhaul Britain’s asylum system by resuming the processing of claims for the tens of thousands of migrants it says were left in limbo and at risk of deportation under previous policy.
The new government has also scrapped the Conservatives’ scheme to send to Rwanda any migrants who arrived illegally in Britain on small boats.
“We are determined to restore order to the asylum system, so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced,” Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said.
The Home Office said extending the use of the Bibby Stockholm would have cost more than 20 million pounds ($26 million) next year.
In total, changes to the asylum system would save taxpayers an estimated 7 billion pounds over the next 10 years, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday.
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UK to end use of controversial Bibby Stockholm migrant barge
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UK to end use of controversial Bibby Stockholm migrant barge
- The Bibby Stockholm, anchored off Dorset, became a high-profile symbol of Britain’s tough asylum policy under the Conservatives
- Britain’s Home Office, or interior ministry, said use of the barge would end once its contract expires in January
European military mission set to begin in Greenland
NUUK: European military personnel were due to begin arriving in Greenland on Thursday, shortly after a meeting between American, Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington failed to resolve “fundamental disagreement” over the mineral-rich, strategic Arctic island.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to take control of the autonomous Danish territory, arguing that it is vital for US security.
France, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced Wednesday that they would deploy military personnel as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland’s capital Nuuk.
“Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships,” Greenland’s deputy prime minister Mute Egede told a news conference on Wednesday, adding they would be “training.”
“The first French military personnel are already on their way. Others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X.
The deployment of a 13-strong Bundeswehr reconnaissance team to Nuuk from Thursday was at Denmark’s invitation, the German defense ministry said, adding it would run from Thursday to Sunday.
The deployment was announced on the same day that the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, speaking after leaving the White House, said a US takeover of Greenland was “absolutely not necessary.”
“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” Lokke told reporters.
“We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.”
Trump, speaking after the meeting which he did not attend, for the first time sounded conciliatory on Greenland, acknowledging Denmark’s interests even if he again said he was not ruling out any options.
“I have a very good relationship with Denmark, and we’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out,” Trump said without explaining further.
He again said Denmark was powerless if Russia or China wanted to occupy Greenland, but added: “There’s everything we can do.”
Trump has appeared emboldened on Greenland after ordering a deadly January 3 attack in Venezuela that removed president Nicolas Maduro.
On the streets of Nuuk, red and white Greenlandic flags flew in shop windows, on apartment balconies, and on cars and buses, in a show of national unity this week.
Some residents described anxiety from finding themselves at the center of the geopolitical spotlight.
“It’s very frightening because it’s such a big thing,” said Vera Stidsen, 51, a teacher in Nuuk.
“I hope that in the future we can continue to live as we have until now: in peace and without being disturbed,” Stidsen told AFP.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to take control of the autonomous Danish territory, arguing that it is vital for US security.
France, Sweden, Germany and Norway announced Wednesday that they would deploy military personnel as part of a reconnaissance mission to Greenland’s capital Nuuk.
“Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships,” Greenland’s deputy prime minister Mute Egede told a news conference on Wednesday, adding they would be “training.”
“The first French military personnel are already on their way. Others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X.
The deployment of a 13-strong Bundeswehr reconnaissance team to Nuuk from Thursday was at Denmark’s invitation, the German defense ministry said, adding it would run from Thursday to Sunday.
The deployment was announced on the same day that the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, speaking after leaving the White House, said a US takeover of Greenland was “absolutely not necessary.”
“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” Lokke told reporters.
“We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.”
Trump, speaking after the meeting which he did not attend, for the first time sounded conciliatory on Greenland, acknowledging Denmark’s interests even if he again said he was not ruling out any options.
“I have a very good relationship with Denmark, and we’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out,” Trump said without explaining further.
He again said Denmark was powerless if Russia or China wanted to occupy Greenland, but added: “There’s everything we can do.”
Trump has appeared emboldened on Greenland after ordering a deadly January 3 attack in Venezuela that removed president Nicolas Maduro.
On the streets of Nuuk, red and white Greenlandic flags flew in shop windows, on apartment balconies, and on cars and buses, in a show of national unity this week.
Some residents described anxiety from finding themselves at the center of the geopolitical spotlight.
“It’s very frightening because it’s such a big thing,” said Vera Stidsen, 51, a teacher in Nuuk.
“I hope that in the future we can continue to live as we have until now: in peace and without being disturbed,” Stidsen told AFP.
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