Tories' nasty plans for asylum seekers not the answer

Responding to reports that the Home Office is considering converting disused ferries to process people seeking asylum in the UK, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:

"We all want to prevent people from making dangerous attempts to cross the Channel, but these absurd Home Office proposals are not the answer.

"Tory Ministers are showing no regard either for the wellbeing of asylum seekers or the island communities they want to turn into detention camps.

"Instead of coming up with ever more impractical, ever nastier ways of treating asylum seekers, the Government must restore safe and legal routes to sanctuary for refugees – especially unaccompanied children.

"The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those in need, and Liberal Democrats will not let the Government turn its back on them now."