Rishi Sunak forced to abandon plans to use cruise ships to house asylum seekers
The new Prime Minister pledged during the summer Tory leadership campaign to use disused boats as offshore accommodation for asylum seekers< /p>
The prime minister's spokesman said he was "not aware of any plans" to use cruise ships (
Image: Getty Images)
Rishi Sunak was forced to abandon plans to use cruise ships to house asylum seekers after being warned it would be illegal.
The new prime minister pledged during the Tory leadership campaign this summer to use disused boats as offshore accommodation.
But on Monday, No10 confirmed that the idea had been dropped.
The Prime Minister's spokesman is 'trying to find alternative accommodation' for asylum seekers currently stranded in an overcrowded facility at Manston Airport in Kent.
However, he said he was "not aware of any plans" to use cruise ships.
Government lawyers had warned that the idea would breach the UK's obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention which prohibits countries from detaining people seeking asylum.
It would also have breached UK law, which only allows people to be detained for immigration purposes if there is a 'realistic prospect of deportation'.
Downing Street announced there were no plans to go ahead with Mr Sunak's plan after it was suggested again on Monday by a former Borders official.
Kevin Saunders, former British Border Force immigration officer, said the system was 'broken' and would put asylum seekers on a cruise liner.
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I would put a cruise liner in the middle of the English Channel and put all the asylum seekers on it, put it in international waters so they wouldn't can't apply for asylum, because it's not the UK.
"This has been brought up before, but has been thrown into the tall grass, but I think it's worth revisiting."
He said a cruise liner would have adequate facilities and everything that would be needed.
The new Prime Minister pledged during the summer Tory leadership campaign to use disused boats as offshore accommodation for asylum seekers< /p>
The prime minister's spokesman said he was "not aware of any plans" to use cruise ships (
Image: Getty Images)
Rishi Sunak was forced to abandon plans to use cruise ships to house asylum seekers after being warned it would be illegal.
The new prime minister pledged during the Tory leadership campaign this summer to use disused boats as offshore accommodation.
But on Monday, No10 confirmed that the idea had been dropped.
The Prime Minister's spokesman is 'trying to find alternative accommodation' for asylum seekers currently stranded in an overcrowded facility at Manston Airport in Kent.
However, he said he was "not aware of any plans" to use cruise ships.
Government lawyers had warned that the idea would breach the UK's obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention which prohibits countries from detaining people seeking asylum.
It would also have breached UK law, which only allows people to be detained for immigration purposes if there is a 'realistic prospect of deportation'.
Downing Street announced there were no plans to go ahead with Mr Sunak's plan after it was suggested again on Monday by a former Borders official.
Kevin Saunders, former British Border Force immigration officer, said the system was 'broken' and would put asylum seekers on a cruise liner.
Picture:
PENNSYLVANIA)He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I would put a cruise liner in the middle of the English Channel and put all the asylum seekers on it, put it in international waters so they wouldn't can't apply for asylum, because it's not the UK.
"This has been brought up before, but has been thrown into the tall grass, but I think it's worth revisiting."
He said a cruise liner would have adequate facilities and everything that would be needed.
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