Ports rebuff UK plan to house asylum seekers on cruise ships

Birkenhead docks. Wirral has seen widespread opposition to the Home Office’s proposals. Photograph: Paul White/North West England/Alamy

Controversial plans to house asylum seekers on redundant cruise ships have been thrown into disarray after two vessels were unable to find somewhere to dock.

There had been tentative reported plans for cruise ships to be housed in the Wirral, just outside Edinburgh and in London, but the proposals were all rebuffed. Sky News reported that two ships have been returned to their prior owners after their acquisition by the government.