The Home Office had indicated the first group of migrants would begin arriving at the former airbase in August. However, the BBC reported that following a meeting with Government officials, Scampton Parish Council was told the start date would now be delayed until October. The Home Secretary is also working on contingency plans to set up tents as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers to deal with an expected surge of Channel boat crossings. According to a Whitehall source, the Home Secretary recently purchased marquees to accommodate the migrants, to have them in place by the end of August. The Times, which first reported the tent purchases, cited Government sources saying a similar proposal was rejected last year because of warnings it would trigger legal challenges based on inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.

Source: The Times July 28, 2023 14:21 UTC