Latest news with #Hillingdon
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Tories say PM is fuelling frustration over asylum seeker housing
Newly-appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has accused Sir Keir Starmer of fuelling public frustration over the housing of asylum seekers. Sir James told BBC Radio 4 the prime minister had "amplified" the situation by saying on Monday there was "lots of housing available" for the rising numbers of homeless people and asylum seekers."It's that kind of disconnect that I think is driving real frustration and that's what I want to address," the Conservative MP told the Today which has pledged to deliver 1.5 million homes, said the country was still "living with the consequences" of the Tories' "disastrous decision to abolish mandatory housing targets". A Labour spokesperson added: "While Labour is working in partnership with regions to turn the tide on the acute and entrenched housing crisis, the Conservatives haven't changed and they haven't once apologised for the mess they left behind."Sir James kicked off his new job with a visit to a housing project in Hillingdon, north London, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who handed him the role on Tuesday in a reshuffle of her top former foreign secretary and home secretary has been on the backbenches since losing out to Badenoch in last year's Tory leadership new role makes him the opposition counterpart to Angela Rayner in her housing, communities and local government brief, but not in her deputy prime minister post. Sir James told the Today programme: "We've got a government that made big promises when it came to housebuilding and is spectacularly failing to deliver on those promises and that is generating a lot of frustration, particularly with young people waiting to get on the housing ladder."He said that was "amplified by the prime minister sitting at the liaison committee claiming there are plenty of spare houses for asylum seekers, while people are struggling to get on the housing ladder".He was referring to comments made by the prime minister on Monday, when he was being grilled by the liaison committee, which is made up of select committee MP Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the Treasury committee, asked the PM about where the government was going to house homeless people, given that the price of temporary accommodation had been driven up by the need to house asylum replied: "Oh, there is lots of housing and many local authorities that can be used, and we're identifying where it can be used."Pressed for specific examples, Sir Keir said he would write to the government has said it wants to work in partnership with councils and in June Home Office minster Angela Eagle said it was looking to buy tower blocks and former student accommodation to house migrants as an alternative to hotels. Sir James was also asked for his view on leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), after Badenoch launched a review to examine the James would not say whether, like Badenoch has said, he was also "increasingly of the view" that the UK should leave the international human rights told the BBC this would "not necessarily be a silver bullet" but that if the review leads to it becoming party policy he would abide by echoed his point, telling reporters: "I wouldn't bring someone into the shadow cabinet if they didn't agree with me." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Asylum seeker bill leaves Tory council in £17m deficit
A Conservative-led council has been forced into a deficit after the Government failed to provide adequate funding for the migrants it housed there. Hillingdon council, responsible for the area around Heathrow airport, is in discussions with the Government to receive exceptional financial support (EFS) to deal with a £17m deficit. According to the local authority, there are almost 3,000 asylum seekers in the borough, with around 2,800 currently housed in hotels near the airport. This is twice the recommended amount under the Home Offices fair shares scheme, which attempts to proportionally allocate asylum seekers based on local population numbers. Last year, Hillingdon received only £2,278,000 from the Government to house claimants locally, despite costs exceeding £4,000,000 over the same period. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, criticised Labour for letting councils go 'bankrupt' trying to 'mop up' the Government's mess. Hillingdon council also expects a cost of £1.2m to house Chagossians, following Sir Keir Starmer's deal to pass the islands to Mauritius. Since the deal, which is set to cost at least £30bn, Hillingdon has seen a significant number of families from the Chagos Islands arriving at Heathrow and seeking housing support. In one week in July, 120 Chagossians arrived, with the council claiming that the cost was not being 'fully met by the Government'. Asylum seekers facing eviction from hotels by the Home Office must be housed in local council funded temporary accommodation, as many are not being deported. The council explained this has placed a 'spiralling strain' on finances, as they have a legal requirement to house asylum seekers that arrive through the borough. Mr Philp told The Telegraph that 'councils are going bankrupt trying to mop up this government's mess and Starmer's plan is to shove the problem onto private landlords, turning Britain's limited housing stock into permanent accommodation for illegal immigrants'. He added: 'British taxpayers are footing the bill for hotel rooms, three meals a day, and numerous benefits for people who broke into this country, all while families in Hillingdon can't get a GP appointment. 'The Conservative Party's Deportation Bill would bring this circus to an end. We would detain illegal arrivals on the spot, deport them without delay. If the ECHR stands in our way, we will leave it.' Cllr Ian Edwards, leader of the council, said: 'The pressure on our finances has never been greater, and the scale of the financial challenge and demand for our services has continued to mount with no sign of abating.' Migration Watch, a think tank calling for lower migration criticised the Government's 'abject failure' to deal with the crisis, with Alp Mehment, the chairman, saying: 'This is another shocking consequence of the Government's abject failure to deal with this growing crisis. 'Migrants and their traffickers know that once here they'll be looked after royally at taxpayers' expense and few will ever be removed.' A government spokesman said: 'This government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. 'We are immediately speeding up decisions and increasing returns so we can end the use of hotels, and save the taxpayer £4 billion by 2026.'
Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Christians overturn ban on street preaching in London borough
A group of Christians have overturned a legal ban that stopped them from preaching on the street in a west London borough. In 2023, the London Borough of Hillingdon introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that banned religious groups from preaching with amplification, distributing leaflets and displaying Bible verses in Uxbridge town centre. The Kingsborough Centre, a Pentecostal church, claimed to have found out without warning at a prayer meeting that the majority of its outreach activities had been criminalised and it risked a fine of up to £1,000 if preaching continued. The Uxbridge church, which was once attended by the England football star Bukayo Saka, took the council to court, claiming the move was an attack on freedom of speech. Church leaders claimed they had been 'criminalised for loving our neighbour', without any consultation from civic chiefs. PSPO legislation, introduced as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 under the Lib Dem-Conservative coalition, is normally used to deal with anti-social behaviour such as drinking and drug abuse. On one occasion, church members said police officers approached them in Uxbridge and told them to hide signs displaying biblical messages such as Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Leaflets entitled How Can I Know God? and What is Christianity: An Introduction to the Story of Jesus also faced censorship. 'The legislation was oppressive' Pastor Babatunde Balogan, who leads the Kingsborough Centre, told The Telegraph: 'As Christians who are committed to our faith, carrying out street evangelism is essential to manifesting our Christian beliefs. 'These rules threatened to not only prevent us from loving our community, as we are commanded by the Bible, but also to criminalise us for doing so. The legislation was oppressive and created a climate of fear. We are concerned at the damage that has already been done.' The 57-year-old added: 'We had no choice but to pursue a legal claim, and were deeply concerned how it would impact not only us but other churches across the borough.' In an application for a judicial review to the High Court, lawyers for the Kingsborough Centre said the council 'unlawfully' introduced the measures and that they breached articles 9, 10, and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect fundamental rights related to belief, expression, and association. In December , lawyers acting for the council confirmed a U-turn and said: 'The PSPO restriction on distribution of leaflets does not apply where distribution is for a political or religious purpose or by or on behalf of a charity.' It is understood the council has also agreed to pay the church's legal costs, believed to be in the region of £20,000. 'A pillar of free speech and expression' Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the church, said: 'Christian open-air preaching has a long and respected history in the UK and is seen as a pillar of free speech and expression, whether passers-by agree with the message or not. 'The legislation published by the London Borough of Hillingdon represented something we had not seen before. Published under the radar, it demonstrated a clear direction of travel that would see sharing Christianity on the streets of Uxbridge become a criminal offence. 'If allowed to go unchallenged, this legislation would have set a chilling precedent for Christian outreach ministries across the UK. We would encourage churches and other outreach ministries to be vigilant and ready to report and challenge any similar legislation proposed by local authorities.' Lord Toby Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph that simply threatening a judicial review 'has been enough' to get councils to lift PSPO orders and added: 'It looks like Hillingdon had to learn the lesson the hard way.' Hillingdon Council said: 'It is utterly misleading to suggest there was a ban on 'sharing Christian beliefs' or any censorship on preaching. 'The conditions of the PSPO applied generally to everyone, did not target Christian preaching groups, and were introduced with the intention of addressing public concerns about the inappropriate use of amplification equipment and other concerns around leafletting and unauthorised pop-up displays within town centres. 'It was only intended this would tackle the disturbance to shoppers, residents and visitors caused by unlicensed or unpermitted events, including pop-ups, street trading and promotional stands. 'Once aware of the concerns raised by the church groups, the council worked in close communication with them to reach a resolution. This included meeting with the groups to explain the PSPO and how it works and the available licensing schemes to allow the groups to continue activities in town centres. 'The council proceeded to conduct an early review of the PSPO in light of the concerns of the church groups, running a consultation in early 2025, and subsequently discharged the order and introduced a new one in its place from 1 May 2025.'
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Welcome to the Little Chagos Islands! Single London council forced to spend £18million to house hundreds people from the Indian isles on top of their asylum seekers quota
A single London council has seen its housing bill for new migrants soar to £18 million after hundreds of Chagos Islanders arrived on top of the asylum seekers it was already paying for. The two groups combined have put a huge strain on Hillingdon Council which is the first port of call for those arriving at Heathrow to set up home in the UK but with no home to go to. Ian Edwards, Conservative leader of Hillingdon Council, claimed that the huge cost is impacting its ability to provide services and that they have been forced to make a series of crippling cuts that have affected life for residents. Hillingdon, which is close to Heathrow, has at any time an average of 2,700 asylum seekers housed in hotels surrounding the airport, one of the highest rates in the country. Once they are given leave to remain by the Government, they are effectively 'evicted' from the hotels, leaving the council legally responsible for looking after them as homeless. At the same time, around 400 Chagos Islanders have landed in Hillingdon over the past two years creating an even greater unsustainable demand on local services as the council also has a statutory duty to house and provide for them. Sir Keir Starmer handed control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in May after 161 years of British rule, in a deal that was heavily criticised for compromising the security of a military base that will remain on the islands. Mr Edwards revealed that the council is demanding that the Labour government refund the near £18 million it has already spent over the last five years and provide extra funding for the future because supporting asylum seekers and Chagos Islanders is a 'national responsibility,' and the issue 'shows no signs of going away.' He told MailOnline: '£18 million is a lot of money and it's not right that the residents of Hillingdon are expected to pick up this tab. 'The Government should do the right thing. Our reserves are being drained and it's threatening our ability to provide services to residents. This is a national problem, and the burden needs to be carried more equitably.' He added: 'We have one of the highest rates of asylum seekers in the country and now we have the issue of the Chagos Islanders. I accept that the Government has a difficult job, but they are not recognising that it's causing harm to our borough and are not doing anything to prevent that harm.' Breaking down the figures, he said that £16 million has been spent on asylum seekers over the past five years while between July 2024 and March 2025 supporting British Chagossians cost them over £508,000. Another £1.2 million has been set aside for the remainder of this financial year as more arrivals continue to pile in. Faced with a financial crisis, the council has implemented £34 million worth of cuts this year. This has included giving up running three golf courses and a local theatre, which have been handed over to the private sector; cutting non-essential services and introducing a controversial £70 per year garden waste collection charge which has angered many locals. A popular council run garden centre has also been closed while some libraries have been relocated to make savings. The council tax has also been increased by almost 3%. Mr Edwards said: 'We are not cutting essential services, but we are having to make savings and see where we can increase income. This is a direct result of two things: the Government increasing National Insurance contributions for employers and the asylum crisis.' He revealed that last year alone, the council spent just over £5 million on asylum seekers which is more than what it spent on libraries and cultural services. It is expected to spend the same amount next year. The bulk of the £18 million the council has already spent over the past five years has been for accommodation with asylum seekers and Chagos Islanders put up in private housing. Council figures show that this year, an average of 28 asylum seekers per week requested housing from the council after being 'evicted' from their hotels. As British nationals, Chagos Islanders are placed in accommodation almost immediately after arriving in the borough, but they have also benefited from other assistance such as receiving prepaid cards, essentials as well as help to open bank accounts and apply for Universal Credit. Even though many asylum seekers and Chagos Islanders are dispersed to other parts of the country the council remains responsible for ensuring that their rent is paid in full if the benefits they receive are not enough to pay the whole amount. At the same time, the council has also had to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds to private landlords as an incentive to let their properties. Mr Edwards added: 'We place these people in private accommodation usually outside of London, but we still have to pay for part of this if their housing benefit isn't enough to cover the rent. We simply don't have the housing stock to keep them within the borough and rents are usually cheaper outside the capital.' The residents of the Chagos Islands, a British overseas territory, were evicted between 1967 and 1973 to create a joint UK-US military base. In 2022, a law was passed allowing them to become British citizens and settle in the UK. Chagos Islanders, who are legally entitled to enter the country usually do so via Heathrow and present themselves for assistance at the most convenient council, which happens to be Hillingdon. Located in the far west of the capital, Hillingdon is considered one of the city's archetypal suburban areas and is largely made up of semi-detached homes located along tree lined roads. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was previously MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which is in the borough while famous celebrities like James Corden and Ronnie Wood were born there. But residents in the borough expressed anger at the huge amount of money that the council has had to shell out for asylum seekers and Chagos Islanders, claiming that their lives are being blighted. Sue Sibley, 69 said: 'It's not just that we are being made to pay for these people because we have not created this problem. Central government should be picking up the bill, the council leader is right. 'Council services are not as good as what they used to be, and people are angry about things like the garden waste charge. I also loved going to the council run garden centre but sadly, that's closed. I've got nothing against asylum seekers or Chagos Islanders but why are we picking up the bill for them?' Penny Bailey, 63 who sufferers from Parkinson's said: 'I'm disgusted by the amount of money the council is having to spend while we suffer. Over the years, all we've seen is the council tax go up and services cut. How about looking after us first? Why is the Labour Government not helping us pay for these people?' Dan Bellini, 35 said: 'I've worked in Hillingdon for more than five years and over that time I've seen it go downhill. I think the Government have let things get out of control with the asylum issue and it's had a negative effect on our lives. 'People seem to be coming from all over the world and none of them seem to be that bothered about actually contributing. British people feel neglected, the cost of living is very expensive, council services are rubbish and life has become an uphill battle.' Brian Mulkeen, 65 who has lived in the borough all his life said: 'I'm very angry about a lot of things but especially the garden waste charge. What's it going to be next? I don't have a problem with the Chagos Islanders because at the end of the day, they are British, and we probably owe them. 'But why are we paying for all these asylum seekers? It's affected the quality of our lives and I don't understand why nobody is helping Hillingdon with the cost of looking after them.' Mr Edwards revealed that the council had not ruled out taking legal action against the Government if it does not provide extra funds and reimburse it for what has already been spent. He said: 'We want to sort this matter out amicably but if the Government rejects our demands, then we will consider our legal options.' The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Overwhelmed council calls for help after hundreds of Chagos Islanders turn up on its doorstep - landing it with a huge bills to cover their accommodation
A council has urged the Government to 'do the right thing' after hundreds of Chagos Islanders landed in their borough, leaving them with huge accommodation bills. Over 400 Chagossians arrived at Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon, in one single year, creating an unsustainable demand on local services, the council have said. Between July 2024 and March 2025, the local authority claims supporting the British Chagossians cost them over £508,000, while estimating this annual figure will skyrocket to £1.2million as more arrivals continue to pile in. In May, over 100 Chagossians came to the borough in one single week, shortly after the Bri tain agreed to hand over the territory to Mauritius. Many arrived with nowhere to stay and needing temporary accommodation, leaving the council fronting the bill for housing, prepaid cards, essentials as well as helping them to open bank accounts and apply for Universal Credit. Chagos Islanders hold British passports meaning they can enter the UK but aren't eligible for the same support as refugees or asylum seekers. Chagossian arrivals went through a similar process as to any other residents when it came to housing support, according to the London borough Now, Hillingdon Council has issued a plea to to Westminster, asking for increased funding to cover the costs of new arrivals in a bid to 'make things fairer for taxpayers'. Between 1967 and 1973, Chagos Islanders were evicted from the former British overseas territory so a joint UK-US military base could be created. It was later brought into law that direct descendents of Chagossians would be entitled to British citizenship as their ancestors were forcibly removed from their country. As such, Islanders who hold a British passport have the same rights and can claim certain benefits depending on the length they've lived in the UK, similar to other Brits. But this has meant a wealth of issues for Hillingdon Council, who say the Government only cover the cost of Chagossian arrivals in the first ten days. 'It's the government's policy on the Chagos Islands which is creating this surge in people coming to Heathrow,' Steve Tuckwell, the council's cabinet member for planning, housing and growth told the BBC. 'Heathrow's in Hillingdon and that's where the burden sits. So the government needs to do their bit to make it fairer for Hillingdon taxpayers.' Many Chagos Islanders arrive with children, meaning the council have a legal duty to place them into accommodation as they are families with dependents, Mr Tuckwell said. A person's length of stay in temporary housing can be anywhere between six months and two years, depending on the availability of longer-term accommodation as well as individual circumstances, according to the borough's website. There are around 10,000 Chagossians worldwide, with most living in the Seychelles, Mauritius or the UK. Many become displaced in Mauritius and continue to suffer from discrimination, stigma and poverty, a Human Right Watch report found. The granddaughter of a displaced British Chagossian was emotional as she recalled her native country's history as she landed in Heathrow. 'My grandmother was a British Chagossian,' Rebecca Philippe said. 'Fifty years ago, she was uprooted from her island, and we have seen her suffering. 'By seeing her suffering, we suffered too, with her. Unfortunately she is no longer with us. But we are here, not only for our rights but to honour her.' Ms Philippe claimed she had to conceal her British Chagossian heritage in Mauritius, as anyone who criticised the country's sovereignty risked time behind bars. Recalling how 'powerless' she felt in Mauritius, she divulged her relief arriving in Britain as she no longer has to fear sharing her identity. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'We are giving Hillingdon Council funding to support Chagossian arrivals where arrival numbers are creating immediate local pressures. 'Government guidance is clear that people must make their own accommodation arrangements before they travel.'
