There was a furore in 2022 when the Guardian revealed that the Home Office had paid a private company £2.5 million to charter boats and crew to pick up people trying to cross the Channel. That number has since ballooned…
Mahmood’s Home Office is four years later paying £30 million to the same company – usually serving the offshore wind industry – for a one year contract (extendable to three).
Contract documents show Border Force wants seven vessels total from Aeolian Offshore: five “Migrant Rescue Vessels” to rescue and transport migrants recovered from the Channel, and two “Recovery Vessels” to lift and seize the boats. They have to handle up to one hundred migrants per boat, provide basic medical facilities, separate migrant/crew toilets, and CCTV covering all deck areas…
There is also a media clause:
“The Owners shall ensure that any Subcontractor shall not communicate with representatives of the press, television, radio or other media (including Social) on any matter concerning the contract/deployment unless the Charterer has given its prior written consent. Any failure by the Owners to comply with the requirements of this Condition may result in a breach entitling the Charterers to terminate the contract for default.”
The massive explosion in contract costs casts doubt on government spin that the small boat situation is improving. Things have a long way to go after the ineffectiveness of the one-in, one-out deal with France…
Badenoch said at her speech on Monday morning: “We are absolutely ready to fight a general election. We saw the results in Aberdeen South: 50% of the vote. Because we can unite the country… It’s about uniting the country, for God’s sake, behind a centre-right agenda.”