Is the Bibby Stockholm inhumane? Some call it a "floatel", whilst others say it reminds them of a jail on the water. Does the British government’s attempts to save money come at the cost of compassion?
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Furious debate over migrant 'floating prison'
Is the Bibby Stockholm inhumane? Some call it a "floatel", whilst others say it reminds them of a jail on the water. Does the British government's attempts to save money come at the cost of compassion?
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It is 1620. The MayflowerThe ship on which the first Puritan settlers, now often known as the Pilgrim Fathers, arrived. Some US families are proud to trace their ancestry all the way back to this first voyage., carrying 102 English PilgrimsIn 1620, the Mayflower ship arrived in the New World from Plymouth, carrying English puritans fleeing persecution., is crossing the AtlanticThe ocean to the west of Europe and Africa and to the east of North and South America. to Massachusetts in search of a "new Promised Land." They survive a harsh winter on the treacherousDangerous. waves to set foot on a new shore... but as soon as they do, they are hurried off and told to live on a ferry.
Of course, that is not the real story of the Mayflower. In fact, the immigrants made history establishing the first permanent New EnglandA region of the northeast USA including the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Some of the first European settlers in the region were people from England. colony. If you are a migrant today, you may not be so lucky.
The first 15 of a planned total 500 asylum seekersPeople who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere. boarded the Bibby Stockholm on Monday, a repurposed accommodation barge intended to slash the cost to the taxpayerSomebody who pays taxes. Most people have taxes taken out of their wages. of housing refugees.
The barge, built in 1972, has previously been used as a detention centre and homeless shelter.1 It was fitted out to house 222 people - less than half of the figure set to occupy it. It is claimed residents will have less living space than the average parking spot.
On Tuesday, UK government representatives confirmed that moving into the Bibby Stockholm was "not a choice," as refugees claim that they were threatened with losing aid and access to the NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948. if they did not comply with boarding the vesselA ship or boat..
It comes amid an effort by ministers to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to asylum seekers making small boat crossings into the UK.
And the Home Office has reported that by the autumn they hope to house 3,000 asylum seekers across the barge and other controversial converted former military sides in Essex and Lincolnshire.
The UK currently spends £6m per day on accommodating migrants in hotels - some £2bn per year. According to the Home OfficeThe government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order. and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, these new options will significantly reduce costs.
But to others, the Bibby Stockholm is a symbol of the inhumaneCruel, or without compassion. treatment refugees will receive when they arrive in the UK. They cite other recent Home Office policies such as the government's plans to deport refugees arriving by boat to RwandaA country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994..
Despite the government's efforts to discourage small boat arrivals, more than 15,000 people have crossed the English Channel this year so far.
Some say this proves that deterrenceSomething which deters, or stops, someone from doing something. is the worst possible policy. Refugees risk their lives to make it to a safe havenA place of safety. , they say - they will not be put off by an uncomfortable bed.
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Is the Bibby Stockholm inhumane?
Yes: It has been described as a "death trap" by firefighters and apart from that it does not have space to house 500 people. It is not fair to house people in a place described as a "floating prison".
No: The vessel reportedly has a gym, a dining hall and common rooms with games and other forms of entertainment. Everyone will have a bed to sleep in. It will be clean and supervised. It is far from inhumane.
Or... It is ironic that asylum seekers are being accused of expecting "luxurious" accommodation in the UK given the awful conditions many survived to get there. Offering unsuitable living space is not going to be a deterrent to refugees, but it does damage their dignity.
Keywords
Mayflower - The ship on which the first Puritan settlers, now often known as the Pilgrim Fathers, arrived. Some US families are proud to trace their ancestry all the way back to this first voyage.
Pilgrims - In 1620, the Mayflower ship arrived in the New World from Plymouth, carrying English puritans fleeing persecution.
Atlantic - The ocean to the west of Europe and Africa and to the east of North and South America.
Treacherous - Dangerous.
New England - A region of the northeast USA including the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Some of the first European settlers in the region were people from England.
Asylum seekers - People who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere.
Taxpayer - Somebody who pays taxes. Most people have taxes taken out of their wages.
NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.
Vessel - A ship or boat.
Home Office - The government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order.
Inhumane - Cruel, or without compassion.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Deterrence - Something which deters, or stops, someone from doing something.
Haven - A place of safety.
Furious debate over migrant ‘floating prison’
No place like Bibby Stock-home: The vessel is set to house 500 single male asylum seekers. Glossary
Mayflower - The ship on which the first Puritan settlers, now often known as the Pilgrim Fathers, arrived. Some US families are proud to trace their ancestry all the way back to this first voyage.
Pilgrims - In 1620, the Mayflower ship arrived in the New World from Plymouth, carrying English puritans fleeing persecution.
Atlantic - The ocean to the west of Europe and Africa and to the east of North and South America.
Treacherous - Dangerous.
New England - A region of the northeast USA including the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Some of the first European settlers in the region were people from England.
Asylum seekers - People who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere.
Taxpayer - Somebody who pays taxes. Most people have taxes taken out of their wages.
NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.
Vessel - A ship or boat.
Home Office - The government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order.
Inhumane - Cruel, or without compassion.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Deterrence - Something which deters, or stops, someone from doing something.
Haven - A place of safety.