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. in search of a "new Promised Land".

They survive the dangerous 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 500 asylum seekersPeople who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere. boarded the Bibby Stockholm on Monday, a repurposed barge intended to reduce 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.

It comes amid a concerted effort by UK ministers to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to asylum seekers making small boat crossings into the UK.

And the Home OfficeThe government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order. has reported that by the autumn they hope to house 3,000 asylum seekers across the barge and some converted former military sites.

The UK currently spends £6 million per day on accommodating migrants in hotels - some £2 billion per year. Some say this will successfully reduce those 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.

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.

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.