British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed government plans to spread illegal migrant settlements across the country, supposedly to ensure “no one type of community is bearing the brunt,” sparking widespread backlash.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Britain’s Labour Party government has confirmed that it intends to “spread” illegal migrants all over the country. 📺 DETAIL: British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, announced that the government aims to achieve a so-called “fair spread” of illegal migrants across the United Kingdom. Mahmood said that the government aims to avoid “one community or one type of community” being overburdened with potentially dangerous, largely unvetted migrants seeking asylum. This follows comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham that more “middle-class” areas will be expected to host new arrivals. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “You’ve got to get a fair spread and what we are doing with the new model of asylum accommodation and the future of asylum accommodation is think carefully about how you have a fair spread that doesn’t end up being in one community or one type of community.” – Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood 🎯 IMPACT: The policy has sparked concerns among residents in areas not previously affected by migrant settlements. Burnham has argued that “all parts of the country need to work, to play their part” in absorbing migrants, but critics argue that migrants should be removed rather than inflicted on every corner of the country, and object to government efforts to present hosting migrants like a Second World War-style national effort. Many of the previously unaffected areas are small, tight-knit communities in rural areas with minimal resources. Labour’s plan suggests that the British government has no intention of substantially reversing the influx of illegal migrants, which is likely to solidify the perception that the new Prime Minister represents a continuation of the open borders status quo. 📺 FLASHBACK: The announcement follows a report from earlier this month that an English village with a population of roughly 600 was set to host around 1,200 male asylum seekers. The migrants are set to be kept at a disused Royal Air Force (RAF) base in the area. “They’ve moved there for the peace, tranquillity and quality of life… This hand grenade has been thrown in,” said Malcolm Taylor, a local councilor. |
Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
