The Refugee Ship

11:46Primrose53

Yes big business aiding the Illegal boat migrants, lots of money to be made illegally or legally by the so called human rights lawyers no wonder they don't want to stop the boats.

I agree that British citizens should have priority when it comes to housing.
I agree that the processing needs to be done more quickly but I wonder to what extent the problem is the lack of identification? I have no idea how they begin to confirm the identity or profession of a person who has no papers and claims to come from a country which doesn’t keep proper records or whose records have been destroyed by warfare. Do they end up taking someone on trust?

I think that British citizens, especially young working families, should be given housing priority.. and as I've said before that immigrants should be allowed to work much more quickly and pay for their own accomodation.. quicker processing is really the only way forward

It wouldn’t surprise me Primrose. I have come across some so-called solicitors with such a poor command of English that I have strongly suspected they paid someone to sit their exams for them. There was no way that their grasp of the language would have permitted them to understand and pass exams in such a complex subject. Ideally placed for immigration work I would say.

Yes, I know it’s the DM, but it’s an exclusive so others will follow suit.

Seems you can buy your way in from dodgy solicitors if you are a refugee. They make up stories about how you cannot possibly be returned to your country for various reasons. the more they pile it on the better.

In our area we had a couple claiming to be fleeing war in the Congo, they were housed, provided with money, furniture, food etc and people were bending over backwards to help. Then the guy decided to kill his partner and when her body was found in a ditch more extensive enquiries were carried out. They had been living quite happily in Holland for 10 years before turning up here with their pack of lies.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12333013/Immigration-law-firms-LIE-authorities-win-asylum.html

Joseann

I'm sure I remember Weymouth hosting the water events for the 2012 Olympics - like sailing, canoeing etc. What happened to the village accommodation that was built for the contestants? I assume the town has used it as social housing which must have been a big benefit. Maybe there aren't so many homeless needy British nationals in that town now, so they won't resent the barge as much?

Some of it is socal housing, some sold to private owners.

Joseann

I'm sure I remember Weymouth hosting the water events for the 2012 Olympics - like sailing, canoeing etc. What happened to the village accommodation that was built for the contestants? I assume the town has used it as social housing which must have been a big benefit. Maybe there aren't so many homeless needy British nationals in that town now, so they won't resent the barge as much?

The accommodation for the athletes was a hotel or Pontins on the bay, which was being refurbished I remember..

Joseann

I'm sure I remember Weymouth hosting the water events for the 2012 Olympics - like sailing, canoeing etc. What happened to the village accommodation that was built for the contestants? I assume the town has used it as social housing which must have been a big benefit. Maybe there aren't so many homeless needy British nationals in that town now, so they won't resent the barge as much?

Really, at least these migrants can get,free health dental care. Free meals, laundry facilities etc. Free gym,TV, subscription paid for, wi fi, paid for, free utilities, free transport, in fact free everything , just because ,possibly, our homeless population have been housed , , they will still have to pay,possibly on minimum wage, much more than these people will have to pay for. They may well have to go without some utilities, and food. No whining about poor WiFi, they have no WiFi.

I'm sure I remember Weymouth hosting the water events for the 2012 Olympics - like sailing, canoeing etc. What happened to the village accommodation that was built for the contestants? I assume the town has used it as social housing which must have been a big benefit. Maybe there aren't so many homeless needy British nationals in that town now, so they won't resent the barge as much?

Don’t you think the local rag has an agenda? Exactly what is
the alternative!

Wherever the asylum seekers are housed it’s going to cost money.

There are only so many hoteliers willing to risk the loss of any future business by giving over their premises to the Government to house asylum seekers.

Where else can they be housed, there is not enough social housing as it is. It takes months to build a house (not kit houses).

Germanshepherdsmum

A business supplying services is required to charge VAT if income exceeds the VAT threshold.

What’s dodgy about the cost of the barge? Someone owns it and has rented it out to house asylum seekers. Same principle as the hotels,

The barge has been widely proclaimed as better value than hotels, but it isn't.
www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23651735.portland-barge-more-expensive-hotels-asylum-seekers/

Sorry Glorianny it’s back at 20% now.

Source - Government website

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

GrannyGravy13

Hoteliers charge VAT on rooms.

The Government will therefore be paying VAT on its bills for the hotels it has commandeered.

Not necessarily. The hotels are booked on a contract basis with hotel owners being offered a one year guaranteed 100% occupancy for a specified sum. This hotelier refused www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11434403/Hotel-owner-turns-1m-Government-offer-house-migrants-ruined-business.html
There is the added attraction for owners of needing less staff which increases profits.
The cost of the barge is even more dodgy. Housing asylum seekers is becoming a big and profitable business for some.

Hotels are businesses, all businesses pay VAT if their turnover exceeds £85,000 this is the threshold until March 2024.

Of course the business does, but if the government is is questionable. I've already said this.
For hotels it is currently 9%

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

GrannyGravy13

Hoteliers charge VAT on rooms.

The Government will therefore be paying VAT on its bills for the hotels it has commandeered.

Not necessarily. The hotels are booked on a contract basis with hotel owners being offered a one year guaranteed 100% occupancy for a specified sum. This hotelier refused www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11434403/Hotel-owner-turns-1m-Government-offer-house-migrants-ruined-business.html
There is the added attraction for owners of needing less staff which increases profits.
The cost of the barge is even more dodgy. Housing asylum seekers is becoming a big and profitable business for some.

Hotels are businesses, all businesses pay VAT if their turnover exceeds £85,000 this is the threshold until March 2024.

I can quite understand the hotelier refusing, considering his future bookings and how this might affect his reputation, but I don't quite understand why he was so offended at being asked!

It's nothing 'personal' - the HO are just searching around to find what might be considered suitable accommodation in a rather desperate situation, basically anywhere where they can just plonk the migrants... he only had to say, thanks but no thanks.

There was one hotelier, some time ago now, who was quite glad to accept the offer because for some reason, he was not doing too well and was relieved to be given the chance to survive. Although how that will work out ultimately is anyone's guess.

Glorianny

GrannyGravy13

Hoteliers charge VAT on rooms.

The Government will therefore be paying VAT on its bills for the hotels it has commandeered.

Not necessarily. The hotels are booked on a contract basis with hotel owners being offered a one year guaranteed 100% occupancy for a specified sum. This hotelier refused www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11434403/Hotel-owner-turns-1m-Government-offer-house-migrants-ruined-business.html
There is the added attraction for owners of needing less staff which increases profits.
The cost of the barge is even more dodgy. Housing asylum seekers is becoming a big and profitable business for some.

Hotels are businesses, all businesses pay VAT if their turnover exceeds £85,000 this is the threshold until March 2024.

A business supplying services is required to charge VAT if income exceeds the VAT threshold.

What’s dodgy about the cost of the barge? Someone owns it and has rented it out to house asylum seekers. Same principle as the hotels,

GrannyGravy13

Hoteliers charge VAT on rooms.

The Government will therefore be paying VAT on its bills for the hotels it has commandeered.

Not necessarily. The hotels are booked on a contract basis with hotel owners being offered a one year guaranteed 100% occupancy for a specified sum. This hotelier refused www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11434403/Hotel-owner-turns-1m-Government-offer-house-migrants-ruined-business.html
There is the added attraction for owners of needing less staff which increases profits.
The cost of the barge is even more dodgy. Housing asylum seekers is becoming a big and profitable business for some.

Yes, I think that’s right GG.

Hoteliers charge VAT on rooms.

The Government will therefore be paying VAT on its bills for the hotels it has commandeered.

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny

The government is classing the cost of housing asylum seekers as part of Overseas Aid. They are also recouping substantial amounts in VAT
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/23/hundreds-of-millions-in-uk-aid-returns-to-treasury-in-vat-on-asylum-hotel-bills
There's lies, damned lies, statistics and government accounting!!!

I would be more worried if the Government was avoiding paying VAT on its bills.

The article does say that under international rules that money spent on asylum seekers in their first year can come out if the overseas aid budget, so nothing illegal about that either.

The Government doesn't pay VAT the hotel owners do. 20% on rooms to begin with then 10%.
Yes they are behaving within International law (for a change)/ The point is that the huge amount people are complaining about is not all money that would be spent in the UK. It's money which would go overseas. And some of it is recouped in VAT.
Of course the rest is going into the pockets of UK hotel owners.

Glorianny

The government is classing the cost of housing asylum seekers as part of Overseas Aid. They are also recouping substantial amounts in VAT
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/23/hundreds-of-millions-in-uk-aid-returns-to-treasury-in-vat-on-asylum-hotel-bills
There's lies, damned lies, statistics and government accounting!!!

I would be more worried if the Government was avoiding paying VAT on its bills.

The article does say that under international rules that money spent on asylum seekers in their first year can come out if the overseas aid budget, so nothing illegal about that either.

The government is classing the cost of housing asylum seekers as part of Overseas Aid. They are also recouping substantial amounts in VAT
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/23/hundreds-of-millions-in-uk-aid-returns-to-treasury-in-vat-on-asylum-hotel-bills
There's lies, damned lies, statistics and government accounting!!!

Barge publicity and photos will be used by people smugglers to attract more customers.

ethelwulf

From what I've seen from a filmed internal tour of the barge, it certainly isn't five star, but it isn't a Dickensian prison hulk either. I would imagine that compared to the accommodation many asylum seekers have left in their home country, and have experienced en route across Europe, it will represent a welcome, safe, warm, dry and relatively comfort refuge, for which they are paying nothing. So no frills seems reasonable to me under these circumstances. Beats a tent in Syria or elsewhere, anyway.

Can't believe some of the comments on here painting single, male refugees as potential criminals and rapists, and suggesting that women in the area are somehow suddenly more at risk of attack. No-one here has actually used the "r" word yet, but the inference is clear. As someone said earlier, Donald Trump and his Proud Boys obviously have some support here for those views about immigrants. Leaves a bad taste.

Have you seen the news reports of some asylum seekers doing just this. One rapist from Somalia even taken from a deportation flight because of some ill judged petition signed by of course lot of Labour Mps, and other deluded individuals. So he's free to roam again. Disgusted by this.
We don't know who these people are,where they come from, not a good idea to welcome them with openers until we do.