On Monday Dr Luke Evans MP raised communication, safety and welfare concerns with the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, after asylum seekers were relocated to a hotel in Earl Shilton and local authorities, including the police, were not informed.
The Member of Parliament for Bosworth, described the Home Office’s poor communication and lack of process as “completely unacceptable.”
Since he was elected in December 2019 Dr Luke said the hotel in question had twice been considered to house asylum seekers, but twice declined on health and safety issues. On both occasions the MP for Bosworth had taken this directly to the Home secretary and senior Home Office officials.
Dr Luke therefore expressed his surprise when constituents got in contact with him to say they believed asylum seekers had moved into the hotel over the weekend. After raising this with the Borough Council, County Council and police, it transpired none had been informed by the Home Office.
Speaking in the Chamber of the House of Commons, Dr Luke has previously asked about plans to reduce the backlog and speed up the processing of asylum applications. On Monday he asked the Home Secretary directly what is being done to improve the process and request a meeting. Bosworth’s MP followed up his question in the House by formally writing to the Home Secretary to reiterate concerns about the local situation.
Dr Luke’s question came on the same day as news that Britain and France have agreed to a £63 million plan to tackle small boat crossings. Progress has been made, 23,000 crossings were intercepted in 2021, rising to over 30,000 prevented in 2022. The UK-French alliance has so far dismantled 55 organised crime groups. This agreement hopes to further strengthen that with the two countries agreeing to a 40% increase in officers patrolling French beaches, to have British officers stationed in French control rooms as well as extra drones and other surveillance equipment.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said: “The process of selecting this hotel has been completely unacceptable, and I wanted to raise this directly with the Home Secretary. I have raised concerns over the last two years and I’m disappointed to see that the formal process was not followed when considering this hotel.
“I am pleased to see, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council and the police are all now fully informed, and the proper process is up and running to support our community and the asylum seekers.
“During my short time at the Home Office I saw first-hand what is being done to tackle illegal immigration and the dangerous small boat crossings. If it was easy to solve it would have been, but the new agreement with the French is another step forward.”
In response to Dr Luke’s question Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “We have experienced unprecedented pressure on the system recently and responding to it has been challenging for our operational partners. We have a statutory duty to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation.
“I understand that a direct communication has been sent to my hon. Friend, but I can say to him now that we want to improve our engagement to ensure that there is much better understanding and much better support for local communities that are affected.”
