ASYLUM seekers living on board the Bibby Stockholm barge at Portland Port held a protest in the courtyard outside the vessel, calling on the new UK Government to speed up their asylum claims.

The barge currently houses around 500 asylum seekers who are waiting for their claims to be processed.

Many of the men living on the barge have been living in the UK for several years.

A number of the men from the barge held a protest by refusing to eat before holding a sit-in protest in the courtyard.

A number of the asylum seekers were spotted leaving the barge to take part in their protestA number of the asylum seekers were spotted leaving the barge to take part in their protest (Image: Geoff Moore) Asylum seekers protesting outside the Bibby Stockholm barge. Faces have been blurred to protect their identitiesAsylum seekers protesting outside the Bibby Stockholm barge. Faces have been blurred to protect their identities (Image: Supplied)

At the same time, local campaigners held a peaceful protest in solidarity with the asylum seekers outside the gates to Portland Port.

The campaigners called for the Bibby Stockholm to be closed.

Among the protestors was Portland Town Councillor Carralyn Parkes.

Portland Town Councillor Carralyn Parkes called on the Prime Minister to close the bargePortland Town Councillor Carralyn Parkes called on the Prime Minister to close the barge (Image: Tom Lawrence)

She said: “We have had a change of government. The Home Office’s recent statement said that they are going to process the asylum claims in a speedy and fair fashion. Let's see them get round to doing that now.

“I call on Keir Starmer to enact immediately a closure of the Bibby Stockholm and to inject that money into the asylum and immigration system so that we can pay for people to process the asylum claims in a speedy fashion.

“I call upon (South Dorset MP) Lloyd Hatton to get involved as well. It should be a priority for him, it was on his election materials, let's see him put words into action.”

Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up to Racism Dorset, said: “The reason we are protesting is because we are inspired by them protesting.

Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up To Racism DorsetLynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up To Racism Dorset (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“This is a very brave act by the men. They recognise there is a new Labour government and it is quite clear to everyone that the solution to barges is to process asylum claims.

“We have a doctor on the barge, we have computer programmers on the barge, these are people who can really contribute to our society, but they are not being allowed to.

“We know they have scrapped the Rwanda policy but it is time to deal with this terrible backlog.”

Local resident John Burbidge said: “I think we need to get a grip of our responsibilities as international people.

John Burbridge was protesting at the Port gatesJohn Burbridge was protesting at the Port gates (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“Asylum is a way of people escaping conflict and persecution."