‘Ludicrous’ asylum barges plan ruled out by Treasury when Rishi Sunak was chancellor

Immigration minister tells parliament the government is again ‘exploring the possibility of accommodating migrants in vessels’

The use of barges and cruise ships to house asylum seekers was ruled out by the Treasury while Rishi Sunak was chancellor, The Independent has learned.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick told parliament that the government was “exploring the possibility of accommodating migrants in vessels” on Wednesday, but none have been purchased.

After Conservative MP Richard Drax told parliament the move should be “totally out of the question” and would “exacerbate tenfold” the issues seen in asylum hotels, Mr Jenrick insisted he “sees merit” in the use of large vessels and that they would “provide good value for money and decent accomodation”.