Home Office to acquire fleet of ships to house asylum seekers

Exclusive: up to 10 disused cruise liners, ferries and barges sought to help tackle processing delays

The Home Office is planning to use 10 redundant cruise ships, ferries and barges to house asylum seekers in ports around the country, with Liverpool expected to be next in line as ministers struggle to get to grips with the asylum backlog.

Officials have been told to look at all options" to find housing for people caught up in processing delays, including former military camps and prisons, with the total backlog more than 1,500 higher than in December when Rishi Sunak pledged to clear it within a year.