REPRESENTING 18 trade union branches, Dorset TUC (DTUC) is strongly opposed to the government’s determination to flout international law through the Illegal Migration Bill, which aims to deny protection and justice to many people in need of asylum. 

Attempts to justify such harsh measures are unfounded: the number of asylum claims per head of population in Britain is lower than the average across the EU and far lower than in developing countries, where 85 per cent of refugees live. 

The vast majority of asylum-seekers have no safe way to reach the UK, so desperate people have no choice but to risk dangerous journeys. 

We are also concerned by apparently racist double standards, whereby people fleeing armed conflict in countries like Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan are made less welcome than those from Ukraine. 

Our view is that safe passage, support and a just opportunity to claim asylum should be available to all refugees, whatever their origin. 

People who are forced by conflict, violence, repression or environmental disaster to flee their countries deserve compassion, not mistrust and hostility. 

Over 85 per cent of such people arriving in the UK are eventually awarded refugee status or humanitarian protection. 

The implication is that most of those destined to be housed on the barge in Portland Harbour will have their asylum claims upheld. 

In our view, housing 500 people in a barge with only 222 cabins and restricted onshore access would be generally unacceptable. When many of those people have experienced hardship, trauma and even torture, it is absolutely inhumane. 

The government argues, spuriously, that pressure on the asylum system necessitates the use of barges as a cost-effective way to house asylum-seekers. 

However, asylum claims are taking up to three years to process, during which time the applicants are not allowed to work so must live on £1.30 per day and cannot contribute to Britain’s economy. 

If claims were dealt with promptly, there would be no need for extra housing and refugees could be employed in the many currently unfilled vacancies. Surely a better use of public funds would be to recruit and train more staff to process the claims.

DTUC has been campaigning over many years for improved pay, working conditions and public services for Portland and Weymouth and has co-authored the Forgotten Towns report that provides evidence of the area’s economic decline. 

Despite our attempts to raise awareness, deprivation remains high in this area but is largely unacknowledged by authorities with the power to effect the changes needed. 

The addition of 500 people will increase the demands made on public services, particularly the NHS. The local community is rightly concerned that the government has made this decision without proper consultation and planning. 

On the understanding that funding will be made available to support this demand, we have urged South Dorset MP Richard Drax and Dorset Council to ensure that this is used to provide excellent services for both local residents and refugees; as yet, we have received no response. 

To cope with the extra pressures on the NHS, we have also requested funding to restore Portland Hospital to full use.  

An additional concern is the misinformation and lies about refugees that are being spread around Portland, Weymouth and wider in Dorset, for example that “the barge will be filled with criminals and rapists.”

This has already divided our community, as demonstrated by the hostility to asylum-seekers expressed by a vociferous group attending the public meeting organised by Portland Town Council on June 6. 

In other areas where the government is housing or preparing to house refugees, this has given rise to aggressive activities by far-right groups, in some cases leading to violent racist assaults on individuals and attacks on hotels. 

Government “anti-migrant” rhetoric fuels these inflammatory lies, with the Home Secretary using words like “invasion” (also recently seen on placards at protests on Portland). 

We have no reason to fear the refugees; statistics show they are less likely to commit a crime than people born in the UK. Our fear is that this government policy is likely to bring far-right extremism into our peaceful community. 

In summary, DTUC’s view is that asylum-seekers are welcome here and should be treated humanely — not cramped together on a barge which is, effectively, a prison. 

Jenny Lennon-Wood, secretary of Dorset Trades Union Council.