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09
Sept
'Inappropriate': MP opposes suggestion of reviving RAF Linton asylum accommodation plan
A local MP has pledged to oppose any move to revive plans to use the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse base to house asylum seekers.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, the Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, spoke as the government seeks an alternative to hotels.
Defence Secretary John Healey told the BBC on Sunday ministers were considering the use of military sites to house asylum seekers.
The previous Conservative government planned to create an asylum centre at Linton, which is close to villages in the Harrogate district including Great Ouseburn, Little Ouseburn and Nun Monkton, but withdrew the proposal in October 2022.
Residents in Linton-On-Ouse ahead of a public meeting over the planned asylum centre in 2022. Picture: Linton-On-Ouse Action Group.
Sir Alec raised the matter in the House of Commons last week, when he asked the then home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to confirm that Labour ministers would not reverse that decision.
He added that Reform UK had also suggested using former RAF bases to house asylum seekers.
Sir Alec said:
Reform announced in the summer that they would house asylum seekers in former RAF bases. In my constituency, RAF Linton-on-Ouse was ruled out for the inappropriateness of its location with the small village around it.
Can I ask the home secretary to confirm that she has no plans to reverse that decision to rule out those inappropriate RAF bases?
In response, Ms Cooper said:
We clearly don’t want asylum accommodation in inappropriate places. What we have to do is reduce the overall size of the asylum system alongside making sure that we can move where possible to alternative and better sites from hotels as well.
Mr Healey's subsequent comments indicate military sites are being considered.
In a statement to the Stray Ferret, Sir Alec said any move to house asylum seekers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse would be “inappropriate”.
He said:
Whether it be suggested policy ideas from Reform, or actual policy decisions by the government, I will stand up for my constituents, and oppose any suggestion of using this inappropriate site.
The proposal to house 1,500 asylum seekers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse was met with fierce opposition in 2022.
Residents set up the Linton-on-Ouse Action Group to oppose the plans. Local councillors and Ripon City of Sanctuary also objected to the proposal.
The controversial plan came as part of a wider government policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claims processed.
However, ministers dropped the plan in October 2022 after backlash from residents.
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