Brighton MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has dubbed the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge “a recipe for disaster” after meeting asylum seekers housed on board.

Mr Russell-Moyle visited the controversial barge and spoke to those housed on board, describing the boat as “prison-like”.

The Brighton Kemptown MP added that facilities had been stripped back including an infrequent bus service and a basketball court with no basketball.

The Argus: Lloyd Russell-Moyle visiting the Bibby StockholmLloyd Russell-Moyle visiting the Bibby Stockholm (Image: PA)

Speaking outside the barge at Portland, in Dorset, the Labour MP said: “We were told it wouldn’t be a floating prison, but you have people unable to freely come and go.

“We were told that local residents would get support for the influx of people and they haven’t.

“We were told that there would be educational activities on the barge for the people, there isn’t. So what we have is greatly disappointing.”

“The gym has been stripped. There are the pictures that we all saw with a gym that was well-equipped, I was told all the weights and all the other facilities in the gym have been removed. In the basketball court, the basketball has been removed.”

Mr Russell-Moyle had previously written to the Home Office to express concern about the use of the boat to house asylum seekers in the UK.

The Bibby Stockholm was previously evacuated due to Legionella bacteria being found in the water supply. Inhabitants returned earlier this month.

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Internet access on board was also described as “patchy” meaning that residents had difficulty contacting family and lawyers.

Currently the Bibby Stockholm houses around 100 men with plans for the number to rise to 500, the Home Office says.

Mr Russell-Moyle also said that one asylum seeker previously housed in Brighton suffered an acute mental crisis on board the barge last week and had to be brought back to Sussex by the Home Office.

Young asylum seekers had previously been housed in hotels in Brighton but the plan came under fire when it was revealed that scores of asylum seekers had gone missing.

The Argus: The Bibby StockholmThe Bibby Stockholm (Image: PA)

Another hotel in Chichester has since begun housing families of asylum seekers with protests sparked outside.

Mr Russell-Moyle said that Labour’s aim if they got into power would be to stop using barges and hotels by speeding up the application process.

He said: “We shouldn’t have people warehoused in barges and hotels. It’s a waste of human capital and resource.

“And that is why Keir Starmer said we would have 1,000 new application processors in a Labour government in the first year.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We have welcomed visitors to view the Bibby Stockholm including local MPs and councillors, independent bodies and voluntary sector partners.

“The Bibby Stockholm is a place of residence which is why we limited visits to those who have a direct link to the site.

“All necessary tests including health, fire and water checks have been completed and are all satisfactory.”