Gosport migrant protest: MP Caroline Dinenage says she is being kept in the dark by the Home Office about plans for boat
Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has not been kept informed of the Home Office’s plan for a migrant dinghy crossing the Channel
Gosport’s MP says she is being kept in the dark about whether a migrant boat is being brought into the town tonight.
Caroline Dinenage has released a video statement in which she vented her frustration about the lack of information being made available by the government.
She said: “At around 1pm this afternoon, I contacted the Home Office minister directly, asking for an urgent update. I have still had absolutely no reply.
“Once again, I'm getting no information from the Home Office about what is happening, where this boat is going, or what their plans are.
“So, I'm renewing my direct call to the Home Secretary. Any small boat intercepted in the channel, wherever it's heading, should be taken directly to Dover by water. The Home Office proved just two weeks ago that they can do exactly that.
“They need to send a clear message to these evil people- smuggling gangs that new routes cannot be opened, and they also need to recognise what events two weeks ago made absolutely clear - Gosport is not a safe or suitable location to disembark small boats.
“We have an extremely constrained transport network, no acute hospital, and emergency services, which are already under significant pressure.
“The Home Office and the Home Secretary should make exactly the same decision they made two weeks ago and ensure this boat is taken directly to Dover.”
The call to transfer all migrants to Dover regardless of where they head to on the south coast has also been made by Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner Donna Jones.