Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that wealthier communities must also “play their part” in hosting asylum seekers.
Andy Burnham has insisted that wealthier areas must “play their part” in housing migrants. (Image: Getty)
The Government has defended plans to house 1,200 migrants in an Oxfordshire village with a population of just 400. Home Office minister Anna Turley said asylum seekers would be housed on a former military site in Piddington, near Bicester, instead of asylum hotels. She also clarified those being housed would be allowed out.
Ms Turley told LBC radio: “They’re not going to be in the village, they’re going to be contained in a former military base, they will be allowed out, everything they need will be on that site.”
She added: “We are looking at former military bases around the country, we’re also looking at former industrial sites, student accommodation, other means by which we can put people in secure places that is contained and is manageable – going back to the beginning of our conversation – is more affordable than putting people in hotels.”
Anna Turley was appointed Minister of State in the Home Office in July (Image: Getty)
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday the Government will make sure arrivals are not only placed in “the poorest” communities in the country and that wealthier communities must also “play their part” in hosting asylum seekers.
He told GB News: “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.”
He added: “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.
“We understand people’s concerns and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington.”
Residents of Piddington have voted to stage a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK as part of their protests against the plans.
Ms Turley defended the proposals on Tuesday morning, telling LBC: “This is about fairness.
“This is making sure that there is distribution around the country, and this is about a more fair and equitable system that limits the impact on local communities.”
She said local people would be consulted and the Government is going through the planning process.
She told Sky News: “What we can’t see is what we’ve seen in recent weeks, where that overspills into aggression, hostility and violence, including against our emergency services, as we saw in Norfolk.”
She added: “The reality is, this is a military base that is outside the village.
“Instead, it’s self-contained. People there will be managed and processed properly with the services that they need there on site. So we are looking to reduce the impact on local communities.”
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Andy Burnham is planning to dish out another vindictive punishment beating to the UK’s middle classes.
“Labour has hammered hard-working families with punitive tax increases galore, increased regulation and soaring energy bills.
“Now, Burnham plans to deliberately flood more neighbourhoods with thousands of illegal immigrants who he has let into this country, and many of whom will commit serious crimes including rape and murder.”