In a controversial move, Britain has announced that it will once again house a group of asylum seekers on a barge on its southern coast. This decision comes after the previous evacuation of the Bibby Stockholm barge due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water system. The government had initially pitched this policy as a cost-cutting measure for accommodating migrants, but the presence of contaminated water proved to be an embarrassment. Despite opposition and legal challenges to the housing policy, the government has started sending letters to asylum seekers confirming their relocation to the barge.

The aim of this policy is to reduce the daily cost of housing migrants in hotels, which currently stands at around $9.8 million. However, critics argue that the barge is inhumane and liken it to a prison ship. Opponents of the housing policy have raised concerns about overcrowded and cramped conditions, as well as the potential fire risks faced by asylum seekers. Carralyn Parkes, a member of Portland Town Council, argues that accommodating asylum seekers on the barge breaches planning law. Her lawyers also contend that the government failed to properly assess the impact on health and the potential breach of equality laws.

Government lawyers are disputing these claims, asserting that there has been no breach of planning laws and that the environmental and equality assessments were lawfully conducted. The government's strategy to house asylum seekers on a barge is part of a broader plan to curb the number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France. Additionally, the government is seeking to deport migrants to Rwanda, although this policy is being challenged in the Supreme Court. Amidst the legal battles and public debate, the asylum seekers themselves have expressed their concerns about being housed on the barge.

Living conditions have been described as prison-like, and the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water system has only exacerbated their anxieties. Despite these complaints, the government is determined to proceed with its plan, touting the cost-effectiveness and manageability of accommodation on the barge. It remains to be seen how this housing policy will unfold and whether the legal challenges or public opposition will affect its implementation. However, what is clear is that the issue of asylum seekers and the government's approach to their accommodation continues to be a contentious and divisive topic in Britain.