Rishi Sunak's Silence on Health Risks

author: FutureCar Staff    

Rishi Sunak has declined to confirm whether he was personally informed about the potential health risks for asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm after bacteria was discovered on the barge. All 39 asylum seekers were taken off the vessel, which is currently docked in Portland, Dorset, on Friday after Legionella bacteria was found in the water system.

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal lung infection that is contracted through breathing in water droplets containing the bacteria. Although the Home Office states that none of the migrants on the barge have shown any symptoms of the disease, concerns have been raised about the fact that people spent four days on board after the bacteria was discovered before being removed as a precautionary measure.

The discovery has led to a blame game among officials regarding who knew what and when. Dorset Council has stated that Home Office contractors were notified about the results last Monday, four days before people were moved off the barge, and that a Home Office staff member was informed about the bacteria on Tuesday. However, a government source has contradicted this, claiming that there is no record of the conversation and that the Home Office only received written notification on Wednesday evening. Mr. Sunak was informed about the presence of Legionella on Thursday.

When asked if he was personally warned about any health risks, Mr. Sunak evaded the question and emphasized the importance of going through all the necessary checks and procedures to ensure the wellbeing and health of the people being housed on the barge.

The government believes that the existence of the barge will act as a deterrent to those arriving in England via small boats in the Channel. It is also one of several alternative sites being used by the Home Office to reduce reliance on expensive hotels for housing asylum seekers, which the government claims costs the taxpayer £6 million per day.

However, the scale of the small boats crisis was recently exposed, with 755 people making the dangerous crossing in a single day, bringing the cumulative total since 2018 to 100,000. Tragedy struck again in the Channel when at least six people died after a small boat capsized and sank while making its way from France. On Monday, a further 11 people made the same crossing.

Mr. Sunak argued that the government is taking a fair approach to addressing the issue, highlighting the unfairness of British taxpayers having to pay millions of pounds each day to house illegal migrants in hotels and the pressure this puts on local communities. He emphasized the need to find alternatives to this, which is why the barge is being used and why the government is committed to it. He acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in solving the problem but reassured people that progress is being made.

FutureCar Staff