London: The contract for the Bibby Stockholm barge, which the previous Conservative-led government used to house asylum seekers off the coast of Dorset in southwestern England, will not be renewed from the end of January 2025 as part of the Labour government's overhaul of the asylum system.
According to government data, the UK has been grappling with a hefty asylum backlog, which fell to around 86,000 claimants in 2024 from a high of 132,000 last year.
"The Home Secretary has set out plans to start clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation which is running up vast bills for the taxpayer," said the Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle. "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," she added.
Ending the use of the Bibby Stockholm forms part of the expected 7.7 billion pounds ($9.94 billion) of savings in asylum costs over the next 10 years, the Home Office claimed.
The three-storey barge to house asylum seekers began to be put into use in August 2023, despite opposition from lawmakers and human rights groups. Subsequent tests on the barge confirmed the presence of a deadly strain of legionella bacteria in its water system, Xinhua news agency reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous government's controversial scheme of deporting asylum-seekers to Rwanda immediately after he assumed office. He is also working on setting up a new Border Security Command to "smash the gangs" that have been fueling the illegal crossings of the English Channel.
