Nick Ireland, leader of Dorset Council, stated that the council may end up 'in a slight profit' when the contract for the Bibby Stockholm barge concludes. He clarified that compensation from the Home Office was received for housing asylum seekers on the vessel moored off Portland, suggesting that the arrangement, despite its controversy, may have financial benefits for the local authority. Ireland mentioned, 'If there is any surplus money then we'll be trying to keep it, of course.'
According to the BBC, approximately 300 residents have already been relocated from the Bibby Stockholm barge, which was initially housing asylum seekers. Presently, only about 100 individuals remain on the vessel. The timeline indicated that the barge would be empty by the end of November, emphasizing the council's timeline for resolving the housing situation. This transition period follows a growing concern over the method of housing asylum seekers in such vessels, reflecting the ongoing debates surrounding immigration policy.
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