Tories reject calls for asylum seeker evictions U- turn

THE UK Government has refused to reverse its decision to restart evictions of asylum seekers from temporary accommodation during the Covid- 19 pandemic.

Labour and the SNP both raised concerns about the lifting of the ban for those not granted asylum, amid fears of a second wave of the virus in the country.

Speaking in the Commons, SNP MP Martyn Day, who represents Linlithgow and East Falkirk, warned: “The minister must recognise that evicting asylum seekers into destitution will be a disaster for both asylum seekers and the communities that they’re evicted into.

“So will he reverse the utterly reckless plans and will he confirm that public health directors and bodies were consulted about this specific decision, and what were they advised?”

Home Office minister Chris

Philp, pictured, replied: “No, we won’t reverse the decision because we need to make sure that where people’s asylum decisions are made they are moved on into the community.

“We can’t accommodate people on an indefinite basis.

“The number of people we’re accommodating has gone up from 48,000 to 60,000 as a result of stopping the move- on over the summer period. “The system is under huge strain, it’s not reasonable to ask the taxpayer to accommodate people on an indefinite basis, but we are doing it in a very careful, very measured way – we’re not doing it all in one go, we’re doing it weekbyweek, very slowly, very carefully, and at all times in consultation with public health bodies.”

In March, the Home Office announced that asylum seekers would not be asked to leave their accommodation regardless of the result of their claim. At the end of last week, that pause was scrapped, and asylum seekers who lost their claim were to begin receiving notices to leave within three weeks.