Council says cruise ship would be 'floating prison' for asylum seekers

Edinburgh's council leader says Home Office plans to commission a cruise ship in Leith to house asylum seekers will turn it into a "floating prison".

Cammy Day said the city council had not been consulted on proposals to move asylum seekers onto the MS Victoria.

The ship has previously housed more than 1,000 Ukranian refugees, with the last due to leave the ship on 11 July.

The Home Office said it had a "statutory obligation to provide accommodation for asylum seekers".

Mr Day said the potential consequences for the city and pressures on services were "severe".

He said the council was "extremely surprised" to be contacted by the Home Office about their intentions to commission the ship to house asylum seekers, adding that it was "all the more surprising given their previous advice that it would be impossible for it to remain".

He added that the council had shown solidarity and support for thousands of Ukranian refugees, along with those from Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan, and remained "absolutely committed to supporting them in any way we can".

But he said asylum seekers needed recognition, rights and support, not an "unknown future".

The council has now agreed to write to the UK government about its decision.

"We were not consulted on this and urgently require further details from the UK government on their plans," Mr Day said.

"I know the Scottish government and Cosla are in the same position and, having written jointly to the minister of state for immigration, Robert Jenrick MP, we've yet to receive a satisfactory response to our questions and concerns."

He added: "The potential consequences for the council in terms of the pressures on our services - and the city as a whole - are severe and, barring robust partnership discussions involving NHS, police and other colleagues, we will continue to oppose these plans in the strongest terms."

He said the council believed that Forth Ports was also opposed to the proposals.

"Many of these people have risked their lives to make it to Europe and what they need is recognition and rights, not an unknown future without the support they so desperately need," he added.

"While the MS Victoria has been a place of refuge for many Ukrainian families arriving in Edinburgh, until we have adequate reassurances from the UK government regarding the welfare and ongoing engagement and support, we cannot allow it to become a floating prison for asylum seekers."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while we consider their claim.

"The significant increase in illegal, unnecessary and dangerous Channel crossings has put our asylum system under incredible strain and made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers.

"We are committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and continue to engage with local authorities as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation."