THE Home Office has abandoned plans to use a former prison site as accommodation for asylum-seekers after spending £15.4 million on its purchase without enough “due diligence,” it was revealed today.

HMP Northeye in East Sussex was bought last year under the Tories, costing twice as much as the previous seller had asked for it.

Last month, a National Audit Office report found that the Home Office had “cut corners” and “made poor decisions” amid pressure from the government to find more accommodation for asylum-seekers.