BACK THE BOAT
One of the first migrants to board Bibby Stockholm praises it saying ‘I like it’ — as critics slam the ‘floating prison’
ONE of the first arrivals on the Government’s migrant barge praised it yesterday despite moaning from Labour and lawyers.
Iranian Amir, 32, tucked into a breakfast of eggs, cheese and bread on the Bibby Stockholm and said: “It’s OK, I like it.”
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An Algerian man added: “It’s good. It’s normal. Food was good. Bed was good.”
Critics say the barge off Portland, Dorset, is a “floating prison” and mounted legal bids to block asylum seekers from moving in.
Amir was the first of 15 migrants to board the 500-capacity barge.
He also caught a free bus and spent two hours in Weymouth before heading back.
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More single males will check in this week. Campaigners accused ministers of “retraumatising” victims of torture.
But a YouGov poll revealed the public back it 68 to 32 per cent when excluding don’t knows.
The Home Office has threatened to scrap migrants’ taxpayer-funded housing unless they board the barge.
Steve Smith, of Care4Calais which has blocked the transfer of 20 asylum seekers, said the threat to make his clients homeless “smacks of a total lack of compassion”.
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But Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said any such move would be legal and hit back at “wrongheaded” campaigners trying to frustrate government efforts.
He said: “Their arguments are wrong. It’s opportunistic.”
And he said one migrant’s claim they are scared of water was an “ambitious argument” to make.
Portland’s Labour mayor Carralyn Parkes said using the barge was “cruel” despite the party admitting it would keep the vessel if elected.
Jill Lewis, of Beyond Borders Totnes, in Devon, is petitioning for a rethink.
She said: “These men are carrying grief. None wanted to leave their mothers, wives, or children.”
Workers from Stand Up To Racism Dorset yesterday boarded the vessel with goods for its new residents.
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