MPs unleash scathing attack on Suella Braverman's 'inhumane' plans to house almost 2000 migrants on vessel

Wirral Waters is a large scale £4.5 billion development under construction in Birkenhead.

A spokesperson for the developers Peel Ports has confirmed that it plans to go ahead with the plans in partnership with the Home Office, subject to consultations with the local council.

Now a group of three local MPs have attacked the plans, branding them "inhumane and unworkable."

In a joint statement, Angela Eagle, Margaret Greenwood and Mick Whitely said: "We owe a duty of care towards those who come to the UK fleeing conflict and persecution.

"Instead, this government is abandoning its responsibilities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people claiming asylum in the UK.

"Government policy is now being driven by a sense of wanton cruelty without any intention of trying to secure positive outcomes for those involved.”

The MPs and local campaigners said they were concerned the vessel would be located in an area which lacks adequate transport links, and that asylum seekers would effectively be “stranded on what amounts to a prison ship.”

A spokesperson for Peel Ports said: “We have provided a berth for a vessel accommodating refugees in Glasgow for the last year and this has worked well thanks to the willing participation of the local authority and their collaboration with the vessel’s management team and the port operators.

“We have similar port infrastructure available in Birkenhead that can be provided for the same purpose.”

The developers added: “We have been clear throughout discussions that this model can only work successfully with the full engagement and support of the local authority and other relevant stakeholders.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

“We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.

“We have to use alternative accommodation options, as our European neighbours are doing – including the use of barges and ferries to save the British taxpayer money and to prevent the UK becoming a magnet for asylum shoppers in Europe.”