Edinburgh council urges against U-turn on 'floating prison' MS Victoria in letter to UK Government

Edinburgh councillors have written to the UK Government, raising concerns over its decision to re-commission a ship to house asylum seekers.

The MS Victoria, locked at Leith, has housed more than 1,000 refugees since June last year.

The cruise ship’s contract, which was extended in December, is set to end on July 11 – with all on board expected to be moved into settled accommodation by then.

It came after the UK Government’s previous advice that it would be impossible for the cruise to remain.

However, the City of Edinburgh Council has now said it was approached by the Home Office about their intentions to re-commission the ship to house asylum seekers.

Council bosses wrote to the UK Government on Thursday, urging them to offer further details about their plans and for “adequate reassurances” that it will not become a “floating prison” for refugees.

The Home Office said that the U-turn can be attributed to a “significant increase in illegal, unnecessary and dangerous Channel crossings”.

“Over the last year and a half, we’ve shown solidarity with, and support for, thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have fled Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine, as we have for Syrian, Afghani and, most recently, Sudanese refugees,” the council letter reads.

“Thankfully most of us will never experience the horrors these communities have faced, and we remain absolutely committed to supporting them in whatever way we can.

“As Ukrainian refugees continue to disembark MS Victoria following the Scottish Government’s decision to end its use next month, we were extremely surprised to be contacted by the Home Office about their intentions to commission the ship to house asylum seekers.

“All the more surprising given their previous advice that it would be impossible for it to remain.”

It urged the Westminster Government to supply further details regarding their plans, citing previous letters by Cosla and the Scottish Government regarding the same.

The letter concluded: “Many of these people have risked their lives to make it to Europe and what they need is recognition and rights, not an unknown future without the support they so desperately need.

“While the MS Victoria has been a place of refuge for many Ukrainian families arriving in Edinburgh, until we have adequate reassurances from the UK Government regarding the welfare and ongoing engagement and support, we cannot allow it to become a floating prison for asylum seekers.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while we consider their claim.

“The significant increase in illegal, unnecessary and dangerous Channel crossings has put our asylum system under incredible strain and made it necessary to continue to use hotels to accommodate some asylum seekers.

“We are committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and continue to engage with local authorities as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation.”