THE Bibby Stockholm barge is to stop housing asylum seekers from the end of January 2025, the Home Office has confirmed.
Currently moored in Dorset, the barge was set up by the last Tory government as one of its attempts to cut hotel bills for people who had come to the UK via small boat crossings.
However, the Home Office has now confirmed it will end the contract from next year “as part of the government’s commitment to clear the backlog and fix the asylum system”.
Minister for border security and asylum Dame Angela Eagle said: “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.
“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.
“The Bibby Stockholm will continue to be in use until the contract expires in January 2025.”
The barge can house up to 500 people and is currently being used to house men aged 18-65.
Earlier this month, dozens of asylum seekers living on the barge staged a sit-down protest over delays in processing their asylum claims, overcrowding and trouble gaining access to medical treatment.
One man described it as a "hell barge" and it also faced criticism after an outbreak of legionella was confirmed on the first day asylum seekers boarded.
An Albanian asylum seeker, Leonard Farruku, was also found dead on the barge in a suspected suicide.
Reacting to the news, the CEO of Care4Calais said: "The Bibby Stockholm became the physical symbol for the last government's inhumane treatment of people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
"The despair and suffering the barge has caused will live long in the people who were residents of it. Nor will not renewing the contract bring back Leonard Farruku, whose family have lost their loved one forever.
"Whilst this is a sensible decision, at this very minute, we are in the High Court challenging the government over the inhumanity being inflicted on over 500 men inside the Wethersfield camp.
"The current government is choosing to fight this case when the solution should have been to end the suffering and close this camp too.”
