‘Political cowardice’: Jeremy Corbyn hits out at Labour position on migrant barges

Published

2 years ago

August 7, 2023

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Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “political cowardice” after the party said it would continue to temporarily house asylum seekers on barges if it wins the next election.

The former Labour leader described the use of vessels as “morally indefensible”.

It comes as the first asylum seekers arrived on the controversial Bibby Stockholm vessel in Dorset this morning, with more arrivals expected throughout the day.

The barge is one of a number of alternative sites the Home Office is using to end reliance on expensive hotels for asylum seekers, which the government says is costing the taxpayer £6m a day.

On Sunday, Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock admitted Labour would have “no choice” but to continue to use the alternative sites owing to the “mess” it would inherit from the Conservatives – but said the party would try to move asylum seekers out of hotels, barges and military camps as “quickly as possible”.

International Trade Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds reiterated Labour’s position this morning, telling Sky News: “We have to address the situation that we inherit, but our policy is to drive the backlog down so we don’t have to use the barges, we don’t have to use the bases, we don’t have to use the hotels.

“It’s not a question of lowering expectations – it’s a question of being open and upfront with the British public about the chaos that we are going to inherit, but also the direction that we then want to go in, which is best for those people trapped in the system but also best value for the taxpayer too.”

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But Mr Corbyn told Sky News: “Forcing human beings who have escaped war and persecution to live on unsafe and overcrowded prison ships is morally indefensible.

“So too is the failure to offer a more humane alternative.

“These are human beings who are legally and legitimately exercising their right to asylum. We should be defending, not denigrating, that right.

“Political cowardice has consequences – and vulnerable people will pay the highest price.”

He added: “That’s why I’m proud to stand alongside people in my constituency campaigning for an immigration system based on dignity and care.”

So far no backbench Labour MPs have spoken out publicly in line with Mr Corbyn, who had the party whip removed in 2020.

There has been considerable local opposition to the Bibby Stockholm due to concerns about the asylum seekers’ welfare and the impact on local services.

Charities have also raised concerns about whether such sites are suitable for those seeking asylum.

Natasha Tsangarides, associate director of advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said: “Cruel accommodation schemes like barges and tents are wholly inappropriate for people who have fled torture and war.”

Sky News has approached the Labour Party for comment on Mr Corbyn’s remarks.

Mr Corbyn spoke as questions remain over his political future and whether he intends to stay on as the MP for Islington North, a constituency he has represented since 1983.

The former leader was suspended from the parliamentary party in October 2020 over his reaction to a damning report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into how antisemitism complaints were handled under his leadership.

Should Mr Corbyn wish to remain as the MP for Islington North he would have to run for another party or as an independent. While he has dropped suggestions that he may do the latter, he has not been explicit about his intentions.

Immediately after the publication of the antisemitism report, Mr Corbyn claimed “the scale of the problem” in Labour was “dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents”.

On becoming party leader, Sir Keir promised to “tear out antisemitism” from Labour.

In March he barred Mr Corbyn from standing for Labour at the next election after proposing a successful motion to the party’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, that it should not endorse his predecessor to fight for his Islington North seat.

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David Lammy blames ‘human error’ for release of migrant sex offender – as confirms independent investigation

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2025

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David Lammy blames 'human error' for release of migrant sex offender - as confirms independent investigation

David Lammy has confirmed there will be an independent investigation into the accidental release of a migrant jailed for sex offences, as he blamed “human error” for the incident.

The deputy prime minister and justice secretary told MPs he was “livid” on behalf of Hadush Kebatu’s victims and he would be deported back to Ethiopia “as quickly as possible”.

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Kebatu, who was found guilty in September of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, was freed in error from HMP Chelmsford in Essex on Friday instead of being handed over to immigration officials for deportation.

His accidental release sparked widespread alarm and a manhunt that resulted in him being found and arrested by the Metropolitan Police in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 8.30am on Sunday.

The incident has sparked questions over how the man, whose crimes sparked protests in Epping over the use of asylum hotels, was able to be freed.

Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, Mr Lammy said the mistake should not have happened as he sought to lay part of the blame on to the Conservatives over the state of the prison system over the past 14 years.

He said “there must and there will be accountability” for the mistaken release of Kebatu from prison.

“I’ve been clear from the outset that a mistake of this nature is unacceptable,” he said.

“We must get to the bottom of what happened and take immediate action to try and prevent similar releases in error to protect the public from harm.”

Mr Lammy said he ordered an “urgent review” into the checks that take place when an offender is released from prison, and new safeguards have been added that amount to the “strongest release checks that have ever been in place”.

The justice secretary said the investigation would be led by former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens, who also used to lead the National Crime Agency.

He also said the investigation would have the same status as high-profile probes into other prison incidents, including the attack on three prison officers at HMP Franklin in April of this year and the escape of Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth in 2023.

‘Calamity Lammy’

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick referred to a report by Sky News which detailed how a witness present at the prison observed Kebatu appearing “confused” upon his release.

The witness said Kebatu had in fact tried to go back into the prison several times, but was instead guided to Chelmsford station, where he caught a train to London.

Mr Jenrick claimed the case was proof “the only illegal migrants this government are stopping are those that actually want to leave the UK”.

“Dear oh dear,” he said. “Where to begin? This justice secretary could not deport the only small boat migrant who wanted – no – who tried to be deported.

“Having been mistakenly released, Hadush Kebatu came back to prison asking to be deported not once, not twice, but five times, but he was turned away.”

He went on: “The only illegal migrants this government are stopping are those that actually want to leave the UK.

“His officials, briefing the press, called it the mother of all – yeah, they’re not wrong, are they?”

Mr Jenrick, who served as immigration minister under the previous Conservative government, branded his opposite number “calamity Lammy”.

“It’s a national embarrassment and today the justice secretary feigns anger at what happened.”

Continuing with his attack, Mr Jenrick asked Mr Lammy whether he would resign if Kebatu was not deported “by the end of the week” – to which he received no reply.

But asked later by an MP whether he was considering his position, Mr Lammy replied: “A ridiculous question, the answer is no.”

The new checks announced by Mr Lammy on Monday involve five pages of instructions and require more senior prison staff to sign off a release, according to documents obtained by Sky News.

The instructions are effective from Monday.