Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has stated that affluent areas of the country must "play their part" in housing asylum seekers, suggesting a more equitable distribution of accommodation responsibilities.
Burnham's comments come as the government continues to face challenges with housing asylum seekers, with a significant number still residing in hotels. The government has been exploring alternative sites, including former military bases, to house asylum seekers, a move that has in some instances sparked local protests. One such instance involved a proposed site in Bicester, Oxfordshire, where residents expressed concerns, leading to a symbolic local vote on leaving the UK.
Burnham acknowledged the concerns raised by residents, stating he would investigate the issues in Piddington, near the Bicester site. "I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part," he said, emphasizing a need for national cooperation.
Historically, asylum accommodation has often been concentrated in lower-income urban areas, frequently utilizing houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Recent anti-immigration demonstrations have occurred in towns like Thetford, Norfolk, where protesters attempted to access properties believed to be housing asylum seekers.
The government's approach to asylum accommodation has been a subject of political debate. Conservative MP Paul Scully, in response to Burnham's remarks, reiterated the party's stance on deporting illegal immigrants, suggesting a policy of removal to their country of origin or a safe third country. "Andy Burnham just doesn't get it," Scully wrote on X. "Illegal immigrants should all be deported within a week of arrival - to their country of origin or a safe third country like Rwanda."
Government statistics from the end of March indicated that 97,519 individuals were receiving asylum support, with 20,885 housed in hotels. The majority, 72,768 people, were in other forms of accommodation, including dispersal housing within communities. A smaller group of 3,866 individuals received only subsistence support.
Regions with the highest number of asylum seekers receiving Home Office support included the North West of England (19,578), London (13,687), the West Midlands (11,969), and Yorkshire and the Humber (8,635). On a per capita basis, the North East and North West of England had the highest proportion of supported asylum seekers relative to their resident population. Local authorities with the largest numbers of supported asylum seekers included Glasgow City, Birmingham, Liverpool, Coventry, and Belfast.
Burnham has previously voiced concerns about the distribution of asylum seekers. In 2018, during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he threatened to block the region from accepting more asylum seekers, citing the strain on public services due to what he described as a disproportionate number compared to other areas. At that time, he stated that the North West of England was accommodating 25% of the national asylum-seeking population requiring housing and support, with Greater Manchester housing 70% of the regional numbers. The then-Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, responded by promising to work towards a more equitable distribution system.