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13
Aug 2023
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP supports housing asylum seekers on barge
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has said he supports the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge to house migrants.
The barge, moored in Dorset, has dominated the news this week.
Thirty-nine migrants onboard were removed on Friday after traces of Legionella bacteria were found in the water system.
However, the government remains committed to housing up to 500 men aged 18 to 65 on the vessel while they await the outcome of asylum applications — and Mr Jones agrees. He said:
'We should be proud of our record'
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he agreed with fellow Tory MP Lee Anderson's comment that the government had failed on immigration.
We also asked what he thought of Mr Anderson saying asylum seekers should “f*** off back to France” if they don’t like being housed on the barge. Last year Mr Jones told the Commons there was a ”problem with standards in our politics”.
Mr Jones said there was a collective failure across continents to tackle the issue. He said:
Read more:
- Andrew Jones MP urges police to continue Remembrance Day traffic management
- Man pleads not guilty to seriously injuring teens in collision outside Harrogate school
Mr Jones suggested he disapproved of the use of the f word by Mr Anderson, who is deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. He said:
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