A Conservative MP has shared a damning review of the Government’s migrant barge proposal, adding that councils have been given “minimal information” into developments
Portland Harbour in Dorset has been put forward for the location to host the Government’s controversial migrant barge which will reportedly cost £20,000 a day and accommodate more than 500 migrants.
But opponents to the plans have blasted the Government, urging it to rethink the proposals.
Local MP Richard Drax joined Andrew Pierce and Dawn Neesom on To The Point to share his opposition to the plans, saying it could have a “detrimental effect” on tourism, which the local economy heavily relies on.
Drax said: “There'll be no control over where they [migrants] go, what they do in a very sensitive seaside town. There are other ports, other places, and you may accuse me of being a nimby, but this port is not an appropriate place.
“I’m not just the only one saying this. We haven't even been consulted by anyone, or hardly anyone, on the consequences of this influx, and that in itself surprises me.”
He continued: “The solution is simple, although of course it hasn't been done. Proper reception centres have to be built and they haven't been.
“And I would urge the Government to get on with it as fast as they can, where asylum seekers can be located securely, looked after properly and their cases validated or not.
“To distribute them round ships and barges all around the country, in the short term, I understand there is a solution, it is not the medium to long term solution for all the reasons we know.”
Watch the interview in full above.
To The Point is live, Monday to Thursday from 9:30am, only on GB News.
