On a barge off the south coast of england have now begun arriving on board. The governments use of the barge called the Bibby Stockholm Has been controversial. Officials say it will be used to house up to 500 men while they await the outcome of their asylum applications. Campaigners have expressed concern about the conditions on board, but the government insists the vessel is safe and that it will help reduce the cost of placing migrants in hotels. Protestors have gathered close to the barge in dorset. Heres what some of them had to say a little earlier. Iam against i am against the barge, i think it is extremely dangerous. As has been proved by the fire brigade. I do not think they should be on the barge, it is like a prison. I think a lot of them will have come from prisons, it is appalling. Portland has not got the infrastructure, i can see that Point Of View but we have to welcome them, they are here now. Our correspondent ellie price is in dorset for us now. The first of the Asylu
Clearly these concerns are worrying local people. The government has repeatedly said that the barge is going to be better value for british taxpayers because of the huge costs of housing Asylum Seekers and hotels, i think it is about £6 million a day at the moment. Do we know how much it cost a housing Asylum Seeker on the barge . We a housing Asylum Seeker on the barae . ~. ,. ,. , barge . We are told it is cheaper. There was barge . We are told it is cheaper. There was a barge . We are told it is cheaper. There was a report barge . We are told it is cheaper. There was a report recently barge . We are told it is cheaper. There was a report recently thatl there was a report recently that suggested it might only be a little bit cheaper. The government has been very cagey and giving us an exact number over what it will cost because i suspect it has been done before so they dont entirely know. There are concerns that the costs of maintaining a barge should be more than a building on land
Attempt to cut costs and deter migrants attempting to come to the uk illegally by boat. Also on the programme, the standoff in niger continues. The countrys coup leaders have closed nigers airspace until further notice, citing the threat of Military Invervention from neighbouring powers. Arizonas blistering heat wave continues as us President Biden heads to the state to promote his clean energy plans. And the american millionaire allegedly working with the Chinese Government to influence politics in the west. Ill speak to the New York Times reporter behind the investigation. First lets focus on the barge for Asylum Seekers here in the uk. The government hopes that around 500 men can be housed on board the vessel called the bibby stockholm. But so far, just 15 are on board. Ministers say the barge will be better value for taxpayers than hotel rooms, which are costing more than six Million Pounds a day. There have been concerns about conditions on board, but the government insists the ba
After a deadline to reinstate the countrys ousted president expired. West African Regional body ecowas had given the countrys junta a week to reverse its coup, which has seen Mohamed Bazoum placed under house arrest. The bloc threatened military intervention if the demands werent met by sunday. But the deadline has now passed, so far, without action. But a short time ago, nigers junta warned the threat is still there. Translation the planning of this war has been carried out. | free deployment of forces to take part in this war has begun in two Central African countries. Nigers armed forces and all our defence and and security forces, backed by the unfailing support our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory and the honour of our homeland. Well, france has suspended all Development Aid to nigers neighbour, burkina faso, after its Military Government said it would see any intervention against the coup leaders a declaration of war. Thousands of people gathered sunday
To be housed on board a barge in dorset are expected to arrive later today. The use of the bibby stockholm to house up to 500 people had been delayed by safety concerns. Ministers insist the vessel will help reduce the cost of placing migrants in hotels. Jonathan blake reports. Floating accommodation for migrants seeking asylum in the uk. The Bibby Stockholm Barge has been moored at portland in dorset for nearly three weeks, but stands empty. Safety concerns have delayed getting people on board but its now expected the first 50 or so men to be housed on the barge will move in very soon. We expect it to be in the coming days, so you wont have long to wait. And this is an important step forwards. Up to 500 people could be accommodated here. The barge has medical facilities and a recreation area. Its one way the government hopes to cut the cost of hotels for those attempting to claim asylum, the bill currently running at about £6 million per day. But its prompted protests from local resi