Barge Mandates Return for Migrants Amid Legionella Outrage

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, has stated that he wants migrants to return to the Bibby Stockholm barge, despite the recent discovery of legionella bacteria, which can be potentially deadly. All 39 people who were on board the barge in Portland were moved off after the bacteria was found in the water supply. Dorset Council informed the government-hired contractors about the presence of legionella on the same day it was discovered, meaning that some migrants were exposed to the bacteria for four days. It is expected to take about a week to remove the legionella from the water supply. Barclay emphasized the financial burden of housing migrants in hotels, which costs £6 million per day, and stressed the importance of maintaining safety standards while considering the taxpayer's position.

Barclay also mentioned that no one has become ill despite the exposure to legionella. Health assessments are being conducted on all individuals who were on the barge. Legionella can cause Legionnaires' disease, which is a lung infection that presents symptoms similar to the flu, coughs, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In extreme cases, it can lead to coughing up blood, and approximately one in ten people with Legionnaires' disease die, according to the US Center for Disease Control.

Dorset Council has clarified that it was not their responsibility to inform the Home Office about the legionella presence; that responsibility fell on the barge operators, CTM and Landry & Kling, who were contracted by the Home Office. The Home Office was notified about the discovery on Thursday, according to Barclay, and swift action was taken as a result. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock has written to his counterpart inquiring about what the Home Office knew about the risk of bacteria before migrants were moved onto the barge.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis criticized the Home Office's handling of the situation, highlighting the incompetence revealed by this incident. He also noted that the barge would not solve the backlog issue, even without the presence of legionella. Conservative MP Tim Loughton described the evacuation as an embarrassment and incompetence, adding that it comes at a time when the government had planned to make announcements regarding its immigration approach.

Despite these incidents, the government still intends to expand its fleet of floating migrant barges, as well as office and student accommodation blocks. This comes after six Afghan men died while crossing the English Channel, with over 50 people being rescued from the sinking ship. The incident occurred off the French town of Sangatte, and local mayor Franck Dhersin mentioned that numerous boats were attempting the crossing simultaneously.

FutureCar Staff