Ministers had hoped to move hundreds of people to Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex while their claims were processed to get people out of hotels
Plans to send asylum seekers into military barracks have been delayed to avoid a repeat of the Tory chaos seen at Bibby Stockholm.
Ministers had hoped to move hundreds of people to Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex while their claims were processed to get people out of hotels.
However, the Government is now set to miss its December target over safety concerns, and fears rushing could see a repeat of the issues plaguing the process under the Conservatives.
READ MORE: ‘Inhumane’ Bibby Stockholm asylum barge to close after costing millionsREAD MORE: ‘My brother took his own life on Bibby Stockholm barge – it must be closed’
Under the Tories, a failed attempt to house asylum seekers on the RAF Scampton site cost the Home Office at least £48 million, and a derelict HMP Northeye site was bought for £15.4 million in September 2023 for asylum seekers only for the plans to be cancelled.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. Moving to large military sites is an important part of our reforms to tackle illegal migration and the pull factors that make the UK an attractive destination.
“We are continuing to accelerate plans to move people into Crowborough and Cameron Barracks, when the sites are fully operational and safe. We will not replicate the mistakes of the past where rushed plans have led to unsafe and chaotic situations that impacts the local community.”
Earlier this year Keir Starmer said he was “frustrated and angry” at the previous government for leaving a “huge mess” in the asylum system by failing to process people’s claims.
Cameron Barracks and Crowborough Training Camp were both previously used to accommodate Afghans during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021.
It follows a damning report which found billions of pounds were wasted on expensive contracts due to a failure of leadership under the Tories.
The Bibby Stockholm barge had been used to house asylum seekers under the Conservatives, but had to be closed for several weeks after dangerous Legionnaire’s bacteria was found onboard.
A report by charities Care4Calais, Portland Global Friendship Group and Stand up to Racism Dorset found many onboard were left struggling with mental health issues. The study was carried out following the death of Albanian asylum seeker Leonard Farruku aged 27.