The Conservative government in 2023 said the centre in Kent would be redesigned by 2027 following reports of overcrowding, poor facilities and outbreaks of diphtheria and scabies.
In a bid to save money, Labour has dramatically reduced the revamp of the former military base meaning the completion of the redesign has been delayed by 16 months to 2029, with the budget slashed from £2.7bn to £990m.
Some expert fear the changes will increase pressure on other parts of the asylum system, with the Government left forced to set up even more processing centres in other locations.
He added: “The Government may be considering smaller processing centres in different locations to dilute the local opposition.”
“If the Government is serious about tackling the illegal flow of asylum seekers across the Channel, expanding detention capacity and adding to the facilities at Manston to allow speedier processing, is essential,” said Alp Mehmet, chair of Migration Watch. “Radically cutting back on the budget earmarked for the project is false economy “
Manston was opened in 2022 – by repurposing old buildings and adding temporary structures – in response to the growing number of people arriving via small boats.
People should only stay at Manston for 24 hours for security and identity checks but there have been reports of individuals being detained for 30 days due to lack of accommodation. An inquiry is investigating allegations of mistreatment of asylum seekers at Manston.
However, the plans appear to have been watered down after Labour cut down the bill for the Manston’s “Transformation Programme” from £2.7bn to £950m.
A person boards a bus at the migrant processing centre in Manston in Kent (Photo: Henry Nicholls/Reuters)
The Home Office said it was “right” that plans to upgrade Manston’s infrastructure were refreshed after Labour came into power “to ensure maximum confidence around value for money and delivery”.
But the Shadow Minister for Policy Renewal, Neil O’Brien, accused the Home Office budget of being in “meltdown”, adding that “they don’t have any clear plan except to wave through more people into the asylum system and then the welfare state”.
The small boats problem
Despite Labour’s plans to reduce small boat crossings worked up with European partners – including a one-in, one-out return scheme signed with France – the numbers show no sign of abating.
It has been engulfed in a scandal following the death of a refugee from diphtheria in 2022. Weeks before the man died, local officials repeatedly raised concerns about health and safety at the processing centre.
An independent inquiry into Manston was commissioned by the Labour Government in February. The former Conservative Government had said a statutory inquiry would take place, which could have compelled witnesses to testify. This was later dropped due to cost concerns.
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