Some illegal migrants who were ordered back onto the Bibby Stockholm have now decided to stay with their friends instead, after months in taxpayer-funded hotels.

Not all of the migrants who were initially relocated to the barge in August will be returning on Thursday. According to insiders, several have made last-minute arrangements to stay with friends and family who live in the UK.

This development is likely to raise eyebrows, considering that these individuals have been staying in hotel accommodation at a cost of £8 million per day to the government.

An immigration enforcement source expressed their frustration, stating, "It just shows what these migrants are up to – 'give me a hotel and meals for free on the taxpayer' until they realize it's going to be a barge and then they've got a mate who can put them up."

The Bibby Stockholm had to be evacuated in the summer due to a legionella scare, and all 39 migrants were temporarily placed in hotels. After two months of checks, the asylum seekers are now expected to return to the 500-bed barge as early as today.

Fresh food supplies have been loaded onto the vessel in preparation for the migrants' re-embarkation.

Downing Street has reiterated its commitment to using barges as a means of housing asylum seekers in order to reduce the exorbitant hotel bill.

While illegal migrants are allowed to choose where they live during the asylum process, as long as they do not abscond, new powers that have yet to be utilized will grant the Home Secretary the authority to detain and remove them to a third country, such as Rwanda.

Tory MP Marco Longhi argued that "illegal immigrants should not have a choice of where to stay. By coming to the country illegally, they have committed a crime and should be detained."

Recently, Suella Braverman, a Conservative MP, successfully defended the lawfulness of housing asylum seekers on barges in a High Court battle against a local councillor.

A spokesperson from the Home Office stated, "The government is committed to ending the use of expensive hotels for asylum seekers. We do not routinely comment on individual cases."

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has faced criticism from his own party regarding the small boats crisis. Tory MP Jill Mortimer from Hartlepool demanded action, stating, "Enough is enough." She described her office being besieged by asylum seekers and her staff feeling intimidated. She emphasized that many of these individuals are illegal migrants who should be expelled. Mortimer urged the Prime Minister to take action to ensure enforcement and the expulsion of those who have no right to be in the UK.

In response, the Prime Minister reassured Mortimer that the government is actively working to tackle illegal migration and remove those who do not have the right to stay in the UK.