Sunak to host migrant sites in his constituency as ministers confirm plans for small boat arrivals to live on barges

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A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman (R) listening as Britain's Minister of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick makes a statement to MPs, in the House of Commons in London, on March 29, 2023, on the housing of migrants. (Photo by PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

ILLEGAL migrants arriving in Britain will be housed in military barracks instead of plush hotels – including one in Rishi Sunak’s constituency.

Ministers today confirmed a tranche of new sites are being prepared to house people who cross the channel in small boats.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick today announced major changes to how illegal migrants will be accommodated in the UK

And the Home Office said plans are underway to place migrants on barges until they’re deported to either their home state or a safe third country.

The first set of military accommodation sites, housing several thousand migrants, will be based in Essex, Lincolnshire and East Sussex.

Later, the Catterick Garrison barracks in Mr Sunak’s Richmond constituency will play host too.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told the Commons: “The sheer number of small boats have overwhelmed our asylum system and forced the government to place asylum seekers in hotels.

“These hotels take valuable assets from communities and place pressures on local public services.

“Seaside towns have lost tourist trade, weddings have been cancelled and local councils have had their resources diverted to manage them.”

Mr Jenrick added barracks won’t be ready to open “overnight”.

But he vowed to finally end the farce of taxpayers forking out £7m a day on migrant hotels.

“These sites are undoubtedly in the national interest,” Mr Jenrick said.

“We have to deliver them if we’re to stop the use of hotels. We have to deliver them to save the British public from spending eyewatering amounts accommodating illegal migrants.”

This morning Deputy PM Dominic Raab pledged “nothing is off the table” when it comes to simplifying migrant accommodation.

The Justice Secretary said hotels have become a “perverse incentive” for illegal channel crossings.

“Barges would be one possible option,” he told Sky News.

 “Nothing’s off the table.

“We must end this perverse incentive through the hotels and more generally with the hospitality that in a broader sense this country gives, encouraging the wrong people, which is the criminal gangs and illegal migrants, to make these very dangerous journeys.”

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