The Bibby Stockholm barge will stop housing asylum seekers from the end of January 2025 as part of the government's overhaul of the asylum system.

The barge, currently moored in Dorset, was set up by the last Conservative government as one of its attempts to cut hotel bills for people who had come to the UK via small boat crossings.

But the Home Office has now confirmed it will end the contract from next year "as part of the government's commitment to clear the backlog and fix the asylum system", saving more than £20m from renewing.

Politics live: Starmer faces rebellion over two-child cap

Axing the use of the barge for asylum seekers is part of an expected £7.7bn of savings in asylum costs over the next decade, the Home Office said.

Minister for border security and asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: "We are determined to restore order to the asylum system, so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced.

"The home secretary has set out plans to start clearing the asylum backlog and making savings on accommodation which is running up vast bills for the taxpayer.

"The Bibby Stockholm will continue to be in use until the contract expires in January 2025."

The Conservative government started using the three-storey barge to house asylum seekers in August 2023, despite opposition from MPs, charities and the local community.

Soon after the first group boarded the vessel, which could house 500 people, there was an outbreak of Legionella bacteria found in the barge's water system.

And in December, an Albanian asylum seeker died on board.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.