The leader of Glasgow City Council has told the UK Government that the local authority would not give its consent to dock a barge for asylum seekers in the city.

Glasgow said that it had been made aware that the Home Office was exploring a potential site for a barge within the city that could be used to house asylum seekers while they wait for their claims to be processed.

Council leader Susan Aitken tweeted: ‘Glasgow's communities are proud to be beacons of support and integration for asylum seekers and refugees. This is the polar opposite of that.'

A council spokesperson added: ‘The council was made aware that agents working on behalf of the Home Office were exploring a potential site for a barge within Glasgow.

‘The council has made it clear to the Home Office that it does not support such a move.'

A Home Office spokesperson said the Government had a statutory responsibility to provide accommodation for asylum seekers while their claims were considered.

They said: ‘We are committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and continue to engage with local authorities as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation.'

On Monday, the first group of asylum seekers began boarding the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge off the coast of Dorset.