Former UK prime ministers and government officials could be called to testify regarding a scandal at a controversial asylum processing center, according to an internal government memo revealed following a legal challenge.
The inquiry into Manston, a former military base used to process Channel migrants, “will probably be reputationally damaging for the Home Office,” the memo states. Those potentially required to testify include former PMs Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, former home secretaries Priti Patel, Grant Shapps and Suella Braverman, former defence secretary Ben Wallace, and various ministers and officials.
Manston began housing asylum seekers in February 2022 but became severely overcrowded by summer, holding 4,000 people in a facility built for 1,600. Poor conditions led to outbreaks of diphtheria and scabies, with one Iraqi man, Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, dying after contracting diphtheria. Detainees were identified by wristband numbers rather than names.
In early 2024, then-home secretary James Cleverly agreed to a public inquiry into the 2022 Manston problems. However, when Yvette Cooper became home secretary in July 2024, she downgraded it to a non-statutory inquiry, which couldn’t compel former ministers or prime ministers to testify. This decision faced judicial review challenge.
During proceedings, media organizations successfully obtained access to an internal document initially withheld by the government. The eight-page note to Cooper dated July 24, 2024, listed 16 individuals or groups who might be required to give evidence in a statutory inquiry.
The memo outlines five key issues including Ahmed’s death in custody, unlawful detention of adults and children, improper use of hotels for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and officers arrested for misconduct. Additionally, 18 separate allegations were raised by various organizations including the archbishop of Canterbury, British Red Cross, and immigration oversight bodies.
Allegations include threats to life, false imprisonment, assault, human rights violations regarding torture and degrading treatment, unlawful property seizure, excessive force, and breaches of safety regulations.
The independent inquiry, chaired by Sophie Cartwright KC, began work last month and will examine conditions at Manston and treatment of asylum seekers from June to November 2022.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The home secretary acted on the advice she was given. in line with the commitments made by her predecessors. That inquiry will now proceed and we are supporting it fully, but it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst it is ongoing.”
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