CAMPAIGNERS yesterday slammed Labour’s plan to open more military camps to house asylum-seekers as a “pointlessly cruel and costly” move.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was commenting on Westminster’s plan to expand the use of military barracks for people seeking asylum. 

Defence minister Luke Pollard said the government is planning for further military bases to be used to house asylum-seekers after the Home Office confirmed on Monday that two barracks in Scotland and southern England would be used to house about 900 men temporarily.

The plans will see men housed at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex.

MSF’s Jacob Burns said: “The government’s decision to expand the use of military barracks for people seeking asylum in a desperate attempt to close hotels is a pointlessly cruel and costly move that will do nothing to deter those seeking safety in the UK.”

The medical charity described prison-like conditions, barbed wire, and constant surveillance which caused widespread and serious psychological distress.

“Over 60 per cent of our patients there experienced severe mental distress and nearly a third reported suicidal thoughts,” Mr Burns said.

Care4Calais’s Steve Smith said: “Before Labour came to power they promised to close the existing camps at Napier and Wethersfield.

“Both remain open today. Now they are planning to open more. This is a clear-cut case of a promise made, a promise broken.

“Opening more camps will only serve to re-traumatise more people who have already survived horrors such as war and torture.

“This is a complete failure of government policy, and a failure of its duty to protect the wellbeing of people seeking sanctuary. People should be housed in communities, not camps.”