Suella Braverman insists Bibby Stockholm barge is 'safe'

       Suella Braverman insisted the Bibby Stockholm barge is safe after a trade union threatened legal action.

       The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has sent a "pre-action protocol letter" to the Home Secretary outlining its concerns over safety issues on the giant vessel, which is intended to house around 500 migrants.

       But Mrs Braverman accused the union of launching a "political attack" on the Government.

       She told BBC Breakfast: "Let me be clear that I'm confident barges are safe.

       "This barge has accommodated people in the past - asylum seekers, oil rig workers - and barges of this kind have been used to accommodate asylum seekers, for example in Scotland, so I'm very confident that this barge is safe for human habitation.

       The FBU has raised safety concerns over the barge (Image: PA)

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       "We followed all of the advice and protocols in anticipation of embarkation.

       "But let's be clear about what the FBU are doing, they are a Labour-affiliated union, they are carrying out a political attack on the Government through their challenge right now.

       "They want to stop us, just like we're dealing with a range of forces who want to stop us from stopping the boats whether its immigration lawyers, charities, NGOs, the Labour Party.

       "They're all gleeful about the prospect of us not putting people on the barge, of boats coming across the Channel. This is all part of a political attempt to stop us from delivering on our pledge."

       The first asylum seekers were placed on the barge moored in Dorset's Portland Port earlier this month after repeated delays.

       But they were removed days later after Legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires' disease, was detected.

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       Mrs Braverman did not say when asylum seekers would be returning to the floating accommodation.

       The FBU, which previously branded the vessel a "potential death trap", is demanding a response to its legal letter by Thursday.

       The union has raised concerns about access to fire exits and possible overcrowding on the three-storey barge.

       General secretary Matt Wrack said: "The FBU is the professional voice of firefighters, and we have a duty to make our voices heard on matters of fire safety, especially when politicians let our members and the wider public down. We have been sounding the alarm about the Bibby Stockholm for weeks.

       "It is disgraceful that the Home Secretary is not even willing to meet us to discuss these concerns.

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       "Throughout this episode, the Government has displayed a lack of transparency and a callous disregard for the safety of both firefighters and those who are due to be housed on the barge.

       "Fires do not discriminate based on immigration status, and neither can fire safety regulations.

       "Everyone, no matter where they are from, has the right to live in safe and decent accommodation, and firefighters have the right to expect that they will not be recklessly endangered.

       "This is an industrial issue for the FBU, as our members are the ones expected to respond to any fire aboard the Bibby Stockholm. We have therefore decided to move towards a legal challenge on this matter."

       The barge is one of several sites, including former military bases, aimed at slashing the eye-watering hotel bill for housing migrants.

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