Plan to house migrants in new homes in Shropshire village ‘put on hold’

A controversial move to house asylum seekers in new homes in the village of Stoke Heath in Shropshire has been put on hold, GB News has been told.

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, told the channel: “What I was able to announce as a result of my pressure and the pressure of the local parish council, and credit to them and local residents, is that the current arrangements that will allow more asylum seekers in over the next few days has been put on hold.

“The asylum seekers that were already in place have now been relocated.

“So, currently, there are no asylum seekers in Stoke Heath, and the government have told me, if they’re to be believed, a senior Home Office official – and there’s no reason why I should not believe them – is that this scheme is being reviewed by Home Office ministers.”

GB News understands the Shropshire development pre-dates new processes introduced by the Home Secretary which guards against housing asylum seekers in new build properties that could increase social tensions.

Residents have learned that 21 homes in the development have been acquired by outsourcing company Serco for asylum seekers.

Labour has pledged to stop using asylum hotels by the next election, moving towards housing asylum seekers in the community as well as in former military barracks.

Earlier this week, the Home Office announced that asylum seekers will be made to pay up to £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support once they start earning.