Alex Chalk admits it is 'frustrating' that just 15 migrants have boarded the Bibby Stockholm

Evening Standard

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk acknowledged it is “frustrating” that just 15 migrants have boarded the 500-capacity Bibby Stockholm barge amid a series of legal challenges.“Of course it’s frustrating. It requires a huge amount of time and effort and organisation to procure these alternatives.“I think the British people would expect their Government to do that if it is our cheaper alternative… it doesn’t diminish our resolve to solve this,” he told BBC Breakfast.

Transcript

00:00 Only 15, one five, men boarded yesterday.

00:03 20 said no.

00:04 There are legal challenges to come.

00:06 You must be frustrated that after all this build up,

00:09 all this months of waiting, you've only managed

00:12 to get 15 on board so far.

00:14 Of course it's frustrating.

00:15 I mean, it requires a huge amount of time and effort

00:19 and organisation to procure these alternatives.

00:21 Now, I think the British people would expect their government

00:23 to do that if these are cheaper alternatives.

00:25 And we'll do that.

00:26 We're committed to doing it.

00:27 And as I say, it's not just about barges.

00:29 There's plenty of other alternatives as well.

00:31 But we will continue to be absolutely focused

00:35 on being fair to individuals, but fair to the British people

00:39 as well.

00:39 So yes, of course it's frustrating.

00:42 But that doesn't mean that we in any way--

00:45 it doesn't diminish our resolve to solve this.

00:48 We do want to solve it.

00:49 We're committed to doing so.

00:50 And the work continues.

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