MP defends town decision on Afghan refugees

AN East Devon MP has said that the decision to offer temporary accommodation to Afghan refugees at a hotel in Exmouth is ‘undoubtedly the right one.’

Earlier this month, the decision to offer accommodation was agreed, until individuals and families are found permanent, long term accommodation in locations across the country.

In Exmouth, 15 families including young children will be staying at a hotel for up to 12 weeks.

In a post on the Exmouth Community Facebook page, one resident raised concerns around this number of refugees in the town, saying: “It’s a great that so many people are donating to the 15 Afghan refugee families – I understand 80 refugees in total – who are relocating here from London to Exmouth. However, in the interests of free speech and local democracy, if anyone does have (entirely valid) questions about how the number was reached and the decision made – eg. why Exmouth is taking 15 families when larger cities such as Bristol are only accepting 10 and Ashford (three times our population) are accepting between five and ten – the best thing to do is to raise the matter with your local councillor or Simon Jupp, the local MP.”

Following the statement, East Devon MP Simon Jupp said that the decision to temporarily accommodate the refugees is ‘undoubtedly’ the right one. He said: “We owe these people a debt of gratitude as many will have assisted UK forces in Afghanistan. Their lives and those of their families would have been significantly at risk had they remained in the country.”

He added: “Sixty hotels in the UK are being used by the government while long-term accommodation is found.”