The Prime Minister warns more asylum seeker “houses of multiple occupation” will open in areas that have been spared so far
Migrants are arriving in their droves (Image: Getty)
More Channel migrants will be moved to leafy towns and villages, Andy Burnham has warned. The Prime Minister said “we cannot have a situation where it’s only the poorest communities” that are bearing the brunt of asylum accommodation. And in a warning to many areas in the South of England, Mr Burnham said “all parts” of the country “need to play their part”.
This creates the alarming prospect of more HMOs opening up in places that have avoided the chaos sparked by the asylum crisis. Mr Burnham told GB News: “I do have to say we cannot have a situation where it’s only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers. I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part. It’s a challenging issue.”
Asked about the campaign against asylum seeker housing in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, he said: “I have begun to become aware of the campaign from Piddington, and I will listen to what people are saying and respond to the concerns that they are putting forward.”
“I don’t know the issue yet in detail, but in some ways, as I understand it, it is about creating secure space and not have the HMO issues that you were talking about earlier.
“It’s obviously going to be challenging, but I am prepared always to listen to people, to work with people and to pick up legitimate concerns, and I will address those concerns.
“We’re working at it, we understand people’s concerns, and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington.”
The Home Office has admitted the North East and North West of England is housing a disproportionate number of asylum seekers.
And the Express has previously detailed how Service User Demand Plans – which set out how many people can be accommodated in each region – allocated 114,791 spaces for asylum seekers across the country.
Some 68,151 have already been housed, with another 66,021 waiting for accommodation. The North East of England and the North West have both surged past their targets but need to find additional homes for 2,000 people between them.
The West Midlands will almost certainly soar over its planned amount, with 10,944 supposed to be housed in the region. But 9,086 are already living there and 4,930 more are waiting in the wings.
But Labour’s plans to end the Channel migrant crisis have been torn to shreds after smugglers launched a boat carrying 230 people.
Referring to pictures of a 15m-long dinghy carrying a record 230 migrants, the Prime Minister told GB News: “I know people will have been worried to see that image yesterday.
“It shows that the gangs are changing their tactics but so will we – we will now change our tactics and we will be relentless in chasing them down.
“I said that when I visited Dover just over a week ago and I meant it.
“And I was there to change the conversation.”