'Evasive' Rishi Sunak 'must be clear' on Bibby Stockholm's warnings, PM says

The Prime Minister dodged the question of whether he had been warned of the health risks to asylum seekers on the barge Bibby Stockholm - where the Legionella bacteria was found last week< /p> The barge Bibby Stockholm was evacuated last week (

Image: PA)

The 'evasive' Rishi Sunak must make it clear whether he was warned of the health concerns before the asylum seekers were transferred on a barge, campaigners said.

It comes after the Prime Minister deflected a question about whether he had been personally briefed on the risks to those staying at Bibby Stockholm.

The 500-person capacity boat has stood empty in Portland, Dorset, since Friday after Legionella was discovered on board. It has since emerged that test results confirming the presence of the deadly bacteria in the water supply were released on Monday - the day the first people were moved.

Facing reporters for the first time since the fiasco, which happened while he was on vacation, Mr Sunak said mildly: "What happened here is that he is right that we go through all the checks and procedures to ensure the well-being and health of the people who are accommodated on the barge."

Rishi Sunak deflected a question about what he had been told about the health risks (

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PA wire)

But he refused to reveal the warnings he had received. Ministers say they acted quickly after being briefed on Thursday evening as 39 asylum seekers were evacuated the next day.

Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais, said while the Prime Minister and Home Secretary were unaware Legionella was discovered on the day the people were transferred to the barge, this is a sign of "gross incompetence or sheer apathy".< /p>

And told the Mirror: "Rishi Sunak should tell the truth. Why did his government put people at risk by putting them on board a barge that had traces of legionella in the network? water?

"Why were these people left on the houseboat for several days? And...