Firm accused of ‘cynical’ plan to evict men instead of families
BY STEPHEN STEWART UNDER fire Serco have been accused of a “nakedly cynical attempt” to dodge growing fury over their controversial bid to make 300 asylum seekers homeless.
Serco chief executive Rupert Soames – the multi-millionaire grandson of Winston Churchill – claimed that families were not the target of the lock-changing proposal, only single adult males.
But a Scottish MP blasted the claims saying Serco were just trying to dodge the storm of negative publicity over their eviction plan. Soames said his firm would evict no more than 10 people a week and wouldn’t kick out families with children.
His move triggered outrage. Scottish Labour MP for Glasgow North East Paul Sweeney, said: “With every intervention, Serco are digging themselves an even deeper hole.
“To focus this nasty policy on a group they perceive will get the least sympathy from the general public is a nakedly cynical attempt to divide opposition. And while they would like people to believe this lock-changing plan is strictly limited in its scope, this week another refugee family in my constituency, including a child aged seven, received a letter from Serco threatening to kick them out of their home.”
Hundreds of peope turned out at a rally this week to protest the evictions. Glasgow City Council said they will establish a taskforce to help those affected.
Sweeney added: “It is also worth highlighting the case of another constituent of mine, Mirwais Ahmadzai, who is currently on hunger strike outside the Brand Street Immigration Office.
“He may well, in the cold eyes of Serco, be a ‘single adult male’ now. But 12 years ago, when he arrived in this country, he was an unaccompanied child. Mirwais has suffered mental health problems due to having spent his entire adult life trapped in the purgatory of the asylum system.
“We now appear to be in a situation where the Tories’ vile ‘hostile environment’ policy, coupled with the inability of the Home Office to process applications for leave to remain in a timely fashion, means children seeking our protection can grow up and become targeted adults in the interim.”
Robina Qureshi of Positive Action in Housing said: “Rupert Soames is making six households destitute this week and it will be 16 in two weeks, and 26 in three weeks and 36 in four and so on.”
In a letter to the council, Rupert Soames said: “Serco is paying for rent, rates, heating and lighting and insurance for some 330 people who are no longer receiving support from the Home Office.
“We are giving financial and welfare support to vulnerable people after their asylum claims have been refused. This is currently costing Serco over a million pounds a year.”