Labour Government to Halt Use of Migrant Housing Barge

Britain's new Labour government plans to discontinue the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge, which houses up to 500 migrants, as part of a broader reform of the asylum system. The barge, initiated under the Conservative government, has faced criticism from human rights groups for its inhumane conditions.

Britain's new Labour government will shut down a barge used for housing migrants off the south coast of England, as part of an overhaul of the asylum system, the Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Use of the Bibby Stockholm barge, which can house up to 500 men, began under the Conservative government. Human rights campaigners have compared it to a prison ship and criticised its use as inhumane.

(With inputs from agencies.)