Deputy PM Oliver Dowden only commits to Bibby Stockholm barge being in use in ‘coming weeks’ as he hints at fresh delay to asylum vessel – but he attacks Labour-linked fire union for criticising ‘cruel and reckless’ plan
- A first group had been expected to board the barge, moored in Dorset, this week
The Deputy Prime Minister has only committed to asylum seekers being housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in the ‘coming weeks’ as he hinted at a fresh delay.
A first group of people were expected to board the vessel, moored in Portland, Dorset, earlier this week.
But the plans have been postponed as inspections are carried out amid serious safety concerns with the floating accommodation.
Despite failing to give a definite date for when the rented barge would come into use, Oliver Dowden today insisted he was ‘confident’ the concerns will be addressed.
The Deputy PM also attacked the Labour-linked Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for branding the Government’s approach to asylum accommodation as ‘cruel and reckless’.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has only committed to asylum seekers being housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in the ‘coming weeks’
Food has been seen being loaded onto the vessel, which is moored at Portland Port, in Dorset, but there has been a delay in people moving onto the floating accommodation
Mr Dowden attacked the Labour-linked Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for branding the Government’s approach to asylum accommodation as ‘cruel and reckless’
Some migrants have already been sent letters by the Home Office notifying them they will be moving onto the Bibby Stockholm.
The delay to them being housed on the barge has come amid claims it is in danger of becoming a ‘floating Grenfell’ following reports of a serious fire risk.
It was suggested the first arrivals will now come next week but Mr Dowden this morning hinted at another possible delay.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We have to undertake a number of inspections and other measures to make sure that these vessels, and this vessel in particular, is suitable and ready.
‘But I am confident in the coming weeks we will have people on those barges.’
Mr Dowden also attacked the FBU, who have demanded an urgent meeting with Home Secretary Suella Braverman over ‘diminished safety provisions’ for the Bibby Stockholm.
‘Of course we’ll take into account those concerns and that’s exactly what we’re doing,’ he said.
‘I would just gently say the Fire Brigades Union has donated £850,000 to the Labour Party since 2010. It’s affiliated to the Labour Party.’
Quizzed about reports the Health and Safety Executive had also made an intervention over the Bibby Stockholm, the Deputy PM added: ‘We are confident that we will be able to address all of these concerns, I’m absolutely certain of that.
‘And I’m absolutely certain we will be able to get people on this vessel in the coming weeks.’
Some migrants have already been sent letters by the Home Office notifying them they will be moving onto the Bibby Stockholm
The FBU have demanded an urgent meeting with Home Secretary Suella Braverman over ‘diminished safety provisions’ for the Bibby Stockholm
There are plans for the Bibby Stockholm to accommodate 500 asylum seekers when it becomes operational, as the Government seeks to reduce the £6million-a-day cost of housing migrants in hotel rooms.
But there has been a local backlash in Portland against the mooring of the barge at the Dorset port.
In a letter to Mrs Braverman last night, FBU assistant general secretary Ben Selby wrote: ‘The FBU believes fire safety standards are universal and apply to everyone.
‘These matters are both industrial and political. They matter because our members will be called upon in the event of an emergency.
‘They also matter to us because fire and rescue is a humanitarian service, designed to protect everyone regardless of their circumstances or background.
‘Fire does not discriminate and therefore neither should safety regulations.
‘Firefighting operations on vessels such as the Bibby Stockholm provide significant challenges and require specialist training and safe systems of work.
‘The diminished safety provisions only exacerbate our operational concerns.’
Mr Selby added his union was seeking an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary as a means to ‘prevent another tragedy’ such as the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in west London.
Source: Read Full Article