Tory ex-ministers face serious questions over migrant centre chaos, inquiry hears
Summary
A government inquiry is looking into serious problems at the Manston migrant centre in Kent, where thousands of migrants were kept in overcrowded and poor conditions in 2022. The inquiry heard that officials and ministers, including two former Home Secretaries and former prime ministers, faced difficult decisions as conditions worsened, leading to health risks and the death of a detainee.Key Facts
- The Manston centre was designed to hold about 1,000 people for less than 24 hours but held around 4,000 migrants in November 2022.
- Officials knew conditions were illegal and dangerous, especially for children, but had no alternative housing plan.
- Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, a 31-year-old Iraqi man suspected of having diphtheria, died after delayed hospital care.
- Families were packed together in unsafe conditions, with poor hygiene and medical care, including one person using a plastic wrapper as a bandage.
- There were reports of racism and threats from some staff toward detainees.
- Two former Home Secretaries, Dame Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, shared evidence that Number 10 Downing Street was involved in decisions.
- The overcrowding was partly caused by a pause in placing migrants in hotels and hopes to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
- The inquiry is examining the role of senior officials and ministers in allowing poor treatment of children and others in the centre.
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