Plans to build migrant removal centre shelved - MP

A migrant, who had diphtheria, died after being held at Manston in November 2022

Plans to build an immigration removal centre at the Manston asylum processing site in Kent have been "shelved", local MP Roger Gale said.

The Conservative MP for North Thanet said he met with Home Secretary James Cleverly who confirmed he had taken the decision not to proceed with the plan to build the base in Manston.

The scheme led to controversy last year when Thanet council's Labour leader called on the Home Office to be open with the public about the plans.

The Home Office said Manston continues to operate as a short-term processing facility.

On Wednesday, Mr Gale wrote on Facebook that he was "pleased" that Mr Cleverly had taken on board his concerns about expanding the centre.

Thanet council's leader Rick Everitt said the Home Office initially wanted to upgrade facilities at the processing centre, which was "sensible".

But he said the council heard from Kent County Council there were plans for "a secure removal centre, which is in effect a prison", and he wrote to the Secretary of State for answers.

Mr Everitt said he heard this week the plan was not going ahead.

He said: "Probably they are frightened of the political implications of spending a lot of money on a permanent facility for something they seem clear they are going to stop, which is not a logical position - particularly in an election year."

Mr Gale said the plans to upgrade the reception infrastructure would go ahead

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We are committed to the removal of foreign criminals and those with no right to be in the UK.

"Despite record pressure on the asylum system, we reduced small boat crossings by more than a third last year and have a clear strategy to process and accommodate migrants arriving in the UK illegally.”

This month it emerged that the Home Office is to launch a statutory inquiry into alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers at the processing centre in 2022, when thousands of people were placed in tents, leading to overcrowding and disease.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.