Patel faces legal challenge over ‘Guantanamo-on-ouse’
PRITI PATEL’S plans for a Greek-style migrant camp faces a Tory-led judicial review after local councillors called it “Guantanamo-on-ouse”.
The proposed camp, which would house up to 1,500 male asylum seekers at a former RAF base in Linton-onouse, North Yorks, is opposed by both the Conservative MP and the Tory-controlled council. And the Home Secretary could be taken to court if she does not back down.
Kevin Hollinrake MP said the plans for 1,500 arrivals to be housed in the middle of a village of just 500 residents were “completely unsuitable”. He has written to Boris Johnson, urging him to scrap the planned camp, which is part of a proposed network of new processing centres, including one in Rwanda.
“If the Government doesn’t stop these plans, we will go for judicial review,” he sadid.
Hambleton district council said it had asked lawyers to start a legal challenge. Dr Justin Ives, its chief executive, said the Government had decided to “press ahead” despite a “lack of consultation” .
He said: “We have been carefully listening to what local communities have been saying about the potential impact on Linton-on-ouse, and the surrounding communities. We are extremely disappointed by the lack of consultation and involvement on this so far and have made this clear to the Government during our discussions.”
Darryl Smalley, a council member, demanded ministers backtrack. He said: “The ‘Guantanamo-on-ouse’ proposal is an ill-thought-out, cruel and morally bankrupt ploy to reduce our obligations to the most desperate people.”
The council could also block planning permission for a “change of use” for the proposed site of the camp although officials acknowledged it was within the Government’s powers to use an emergency order to force it through.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed nearly 700 migrants have made it across the Channel in just three days this week after 149 were detained on Tuesday. A record 7,389 have made it to the UK this year, treble last year’s rate.
◆ A man suspected of supplying “significant numbers” of small boats to peopletrafficking gangs has been arrested. The man, 29, originally from Iran but now living in east London, was held in Ilford after a joint operation by the National Crime Agency and Belgian police. He is accused of sourcing boats in Turkey and delivering them to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.