WIRRAL MPs have slammed “inhumane” plans to house more than a thousand asylum seekers on a boat in Birkenhead.

According to reports, the government is considering plans to house 1,800 refugees on a vessel in the area around the Wirral Waters regeneration project.  

Wirral Waters is a large scale £4.5bn development currently being built by the Peel Group.

The infrastructure and property investment business, based in Manchester, has confirmed it will only go ahead with plans following engagement with the local council.

Wirral MPs have condemned Home Office plans to house refugees on a vessel on the River Mersey as “inhumane and unworkable”.

In a joint statement, Mick Whitley, Angela Eagle, and Margaret Greenwood 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.” 

It is understood that the Home Office first informed Wirral Council that the Mersey was being considered as a location to house refugees on Friday (April 13th 2023). The MPs criticised Ministers for having failed to consult with the council when developing these plans and said that it reflected a “culture of incompetence” within the Home Office. 

The number of people waiting to have their initial asylum claims processed soared to 161,000 in December 2022, meaning that the UK now has the second-largest asylum backlog in Europe - despite receiving fewer asylum seekers than many comparably sized countries. Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused the Government of having “broken” the asylum system.

The statement expresses concern that the vessel would be located in an area of the borough without adequate transport links and that the refugees would therefore be “stranded on what amounts to a prison ship”. It also warns that local services, including healthcare, would not be readily accessible to refugees with complex needs.

The MPs have pledged to “fight these inhumane plans all the way” and are now demanding a meeting with Home Office Ministers.

Christopher Young, Founder of Refugee Assist, told the Globe: "It's a sad state of affairs that the process of the asylum system is completely broken and unable to run claims at a fair rate, to allow people to continue their lives, rather than exist in limbo for their future. Because of this, 'housing' asylum seekers over water while claims are processed has been shamefully decided on.

"Most of these people have ended their search for safety by travelling over the treacherous English Channel after many miles of travel. This alone will trigger many traumas. Also, society must resist the impending right-wing onslaught of propaganda that will be seen through many platforms. Please find out the facts and figures, and remember, these are fellow human beings that are only looking for a safe life, many being women and children."

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 operations.

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