PM: Migrant Barge Is Fair And Will Save Money

Vessel to cost £50 a day per migrant

- Michael Knowles and Millie Cooke

RISHI Sunak has defended plans to house migrants on a barge as "fair" and a saving for taxpayers.

The vessel could host 500 men off Dorset at a daily cost of £50 each and help "stop the boats", the PM said. The three-deck Bibby Stockholm would be moored off Portland for at least 18 months.

Mr Sunak restated his commitment to sort the Channel migrants crisis, saying: "We've got to reduce the pressure on hotels in communities up and down the country.

"We are spending, as a country, £6million a day housing illegal asylum seekers in hotels - that can't be right. I've committed to reducing that number, moving asylum seekers out of hotels and that means we need to find alternative sites, including barges.

"That's going to save the taxpayer money, reduce pressure on hotels and it's part of our broader plan to stop the boats."

The vessel's first residents will board over the coming months as ministers try to stop using hotels, which currently house 51,000 asylum seekers at nearly 395 sites. The barge, to be chartered from off specialists shore accommodation Bibby Marine, will cost taxpayers around £50 a day per migrant - a third the price of using hotels.

It will be home to 500 single adult men while their asylum claims are processed. The Home Office says there will be 24-hour security plus healthcare and catering. The migrants will be bussed to and from the working port.

Officials say they are also "in discussions with other ports and further vessels will be announced".