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Manston was at risk of becoming an unofficial detention centre, minister says Manston was at risk of becoming an unofficial detention centre, minister says
(about 2 hours later)
There were protests outside the Manston centre over the weekendThere were protests outside the Manston centre over the weekend
Grant Shapps has said the Manston asylum processing site was "tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre" when he briefly served as home secretary last month.Grant Shapps has said the Manston asylum processing site was "tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre" when he briefly served as home secretary last month.
He told BBC Breakfast he received "very clear" advice when he took over from Suella Braverman after she resigned.He told BBC Breakfast he received "very clear" advice when he took over from Suella Braverman after she resigned.
Mr Shapps said there were concerns people were "unintentionally being detained", which would not be legal.Mr Shapps said there were concerns people were "unintentionally being detained", which would not be legal.
The government has been criticised for severe overcrowding at Manston.The government has been criticised for severe overcrowding at Manston.
Ms Braverman, who was reappointed as home secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has denied ignoring legal advice or blocking the use of hotels to ease the pressure at the site in Kent.Ms Braverman, who was reappointed as home secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has denied ignoring legal advice or blocking the use of hotels to ease the pressure at the site in Kent.
At one point at the end of last month there were believed to be around 4,000 migrants at Manston - despite the centre being designed to accommodate only 1,600 people on a temporary basis.At one point at the end of last month there were believed to be around 4,000 migrants at Manston - despite the centre being designed to accommodate only 1,600 people on a temporary basis.
Why are there problems at Manston migrant centre?Why are there problems at Manston migrant centre?
What's behind the Home Office migrant backlog?What's behind the Home Office migrant backlog?
Mr Shapps, who is now business secretary, served as home secretary for six days after the resignation of Ms Braverman over data breaches in the final days of Liz Truss's premiership.Mr Shapps, who is now business secretary, served as home secretary for six days after the resignation of Ms Braverman over data breaches in the final days of Liz Truss's premiership.
He told BBC Breakfast that, during his time at the Home Office, "what I saw was a situation whereby a centre that was set up to be a processing centre... was tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre".He told BBC Breakfast that, during his time at the Home Office, "what I saw was a situation whereby a centre that was set up to be a processing centre... was tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre".
He said he was keen to ensure the government remained within the law and made changes to the operation of the site "to ensure that it wasn't a detention centre", while also moving people out.He said he was keen to ensure the government remained within the law and made changes to the operation of the site "to ensure that it wasn't a detention centre", while also moving people out.
He added: "Those are decisions that I very quickly made. Actually, the home secretary subsequently has continued to make the same changes to make sure that those numbers are brought down."He added: "Those are decisions that I very quickly made. Actually, the home secretary subsequently has continued to make the same changes to make sure that those numbers are brought down."
The big question Suella Braverman faces is whether she did enough to ensure the government was complying with the law at Manston.The big question Suella Braverman faces is whether she did enough to ensure the government was complying with the law at Manston.
Several people close to the process have said she did not take the action required to make sure people were moved on from the temporary facility quickly.Several people close to the process have said she did not take the action required to make sure people were moved on from the temporary facility quickly.
Ms Braverman has denied blocking the procurement of hotels. But Grant Shapps has just potentially opened a can of worms.Ms Braverman has denied blocking the procurement of hotels. But Grant Shapps has just potentially opened a can of worms.
He says he got very clear advice about Manston, and that there were concerns about people being unintentionally kept for too long, thus acting outside the law.He says he got very clear advice about Manston, and that there were concerns about people being unintentionally kept for too long, thus acting outside the law.
Mr Shapps also talked about having to "rectify" the situation when he took over.Mr Shapps also talked about having to "rectify" the situation when he took over.
This raises more questions for the home secretary about whether she took all the action she needed to.This raises more questions for the home secretary about whether she took all the action she needed to.
The government is facing a potential court battle over the safety of women and children at Manston, after legal action claimed there was routine and prolonged unlawful detention at the facility.The government is facing a potential court battle over the safety of women and children at Manston, after legal action claimed there was routine and prolonged unlawful detention at the facility.
The former RAF base was set up as a short-term holding site, with no overnight accommodation, meaning officials can not normally keep anyone there beyond 24 hours.The former RAF base was set up as a short-term holding site, with no overnight accommodation, meaning officials can not normally keep anyone there beyond 24 hours.
The government has blamed the large number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats for the pressure on the asylum system.The government has blamed the large number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats for the pressure on the asylum system.
So far this year, almost 40,000 people have made the dangerous journey - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.So far this year, almost 40,000 people have made the dangerous journey - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.
The issue will be discussed by Mr Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron when they meet at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt later.The issue will be discussed by Mr Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron when they meet at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt later.
"The more that we can work with our partners in France to stop people from leaving those shores in the first place, the better," Mr Shapps said, adding that reducing the numbers crossing the Channel would "relieve the pressures" in the UK."The more that we can work with our partners in France to stop people from leaving those shores in the first place, the better," Mr Shapps said, adding that reducing the numbers crossing the Channel would "relieve the pressures" in the UK.
The prime minister's official spokesman said he would not "pre-empt" their meeting, but the government wanted to "continue strong co-operation" with the French who had a "vitally important" role.
He said the French authorities had "stopped 29,000 illegal crossings" this year, double the number in 2021, and that a joint intelligence cell had made 500 arrests and dismantled 55 organised crime groups since 2020.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed to work "upstream" with France to stop people smuggling across the Channel.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed to work "upstream" with France to stop people smuggling across the Channel.
"That is the discussion I would have, I hope it is the discussion that our prime minister will have," he told broadcasters."That is the discussion I would have, I hope it is the discussion that our prime minister will have," he told broadcasters.