Minister says ‘sorry’ but refuses to budge on Piddington migrant housing plan

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has apologised for the government’s plan to house migrants in a former military base near Piddington in Oxfordshire, but said the scheme must go ahead.

He told GB News: “I understand how people will feel the concerns that they will have, but the fact is, asylum hotels, which we inherited, were a completely, I believe, unsuitable way to sort this problem out. I think a military base, military land where you can monitor who’s coming, who’s leaving, where there are people in a place together, is a far more suitable location.

“I understand that’s not going to be to the satisfaction of people who are in the vicinity of that. This is difficult, but when we promise to close asylum hotels in the centre of towns and centre of cities, that is exactly what we’re going to do.

“The key part of this is those figures about the number of people who have been deported. I mean, that’s a key part of this. But there is unfortunately a need to house people till that backlog is processed, until people are, if they shouldn’t be in the UK, deported. And I do think somewhere like a military base, former military land, is far better than hotels in the centre of towns.

“I’m sorry, it’s difficult, but we have to do something. And we did promise to close asylum hotels. That is what we’re going to do.”

He also warned that people helping migrants to cross the Channel are committing an offence: “If you look at the backlog that we inherited, it’s down by over half, 60% down. If you look at deportations, deporting people, that’s at record levels. If you look at closing asylum hotels, that is what we’re doing.

“We inherited a right old mess. I wouldn’t deny that for a second. And frankly, there are reasons why we have this small boats crisis in a way we didn’t have a few years ago. But we’ve got to tackle the problem, not exploit people’s concerns as other political parties do. We’ve got to solve this problem, and that is what we are doing.

“I would not be happy, by the way, with anyone, whatever organisation they’re from, aiding illegal migration into Britain. That is completely unacceptable. I think that’s an entirely reasonable stance for any government, anyone in the UK, to take. But we do know people will come, come what may, to the UK, and that’s why the system’s got to deal with this. It’s got to be effective.”

He added: “Look, first of all, anyone involved in aiding illegal activity, I would expect the Home Office, our authorities, to crack down upon it. I’m simply recognising whatever has gone on here. It’s not going to be the entirety of the problem.

“We know people will try and come to the UK. Let’s just be frank about that. That’s why, in itself, that’s not going to do what is required. Cooperation with the French authorities has improved a lot under this government. The relationship between the UK and France has improved a lot. I think that is fairly evident, and so that’s a key part of tackling this problem.

“If that isn’t being administered in the right way, of course, we would take that up with the French authorities.”