Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, has faced backlash for posting a video on social media where she expressed her sympathy for the asylum seekers living on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset. The barge is being used by the Home Office to accommodate about 150 asylum seekers while their claims are being processed.
In the video, Ms Whittome said that she had met with some of the residents of the barge and heard their “emotional and harrowing” testimony. She claimed that the conditions on the barge were “cramped” and “humiliating”, and that the men she spoke to felt like they were living in a prison. She also said that she would fight for an asylum system that treats people with dignity and care.
However, her video was met with criticism from some quarters, including GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry, who accused Ms Whittome of turning the issue into a “political football” and being out of touch with the reality of many British people. Ms Dewberry, a former Apprentice winner and Brexit supporter, said that she felt “heartbroken” for the homeless people in the UK who had to endure harsh weather conditions and had no access to the facilities that the asylum seekers on the barge had. She also questioned the legitimacy of the asylum seekers’ claims, suggesting that they had discarded their documents and left a safe country, France, to come to the UK.
According to Express, Ms Dewberry’s views were echoed by some of the online commentators, who accused Ms Whittome of being naive, virtue-signalling, and wasting taxpayers’ money. Some also pointed out that the Bibby Stockholm barge was originally designed as an accommodation vessel for offshore workers, and that it had amenities such as en-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi, TV, and laundry services.
However, Ms Whittome also received some support from other MPs, human rights groups, and charities, who defended her right to scrutinise the Home Office’s use of the barge and to raise awareness of the plight of the asylum seekers. They argued that the barge was an unsuitable and inhumane place to house vulnerable people, especially during the winter, and that it violated their human rights and dignity. They also challenged the notion that the asylum seekers had chosen to come to the UK illegally, and stressed that they had the right to seek protection and safety under international law.
The Home Office has defended its use of the barge, saying that it was a temporary measure to deal with the increased number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK, and that it provided safe and secure accommodation with access to health and welfare services. It also said that it was working to move the asylum seekers to more permanent accommodation as soon as possible.
The Bibby Stockholm barge is one of several controversial sites that the Home Office has used to house asylum seekers in recent months, including former military barracks, hotels, and detention centres. The Home Office has faced legal challenges, protests, and criticism from MPs, campaigners, and inspectors over the conditions and suitability of these sites.
