A recent poll indicates that 57% of UK voters do not want more migrants in their area, with only 15% expressing openness to the idea. The survey, conducted by Find Out Now with over 10,000 participants, highlights a tension between the principle of equitable distribution of asylum seekers and local opposition.
A majority of those surveyed, 51%, believe asylum seekers should be housed evenly across all regions of the country, while 26% disagreed. However, a strong consensus exists on tackling illegal immigration, with 82% of all voters believing the government should increase efforts to prevent individuals from entering the UK on small boats.
The poll also identified areas with the highest opposition to housing asylum seekers, with Lincolnshire topping the list at 57%, followed by Worcestershire, Shropshire, and County Durham. Wiltshire showed the least opposition, with 21% against, trailed by East Sussex, Merseyside, and Nottinghamshire.
These findings emerge as disused military sites are being converted into accommodation for asylum seekers. One such site near Piddington in Oxfordshire, with a local population of 314, is slated to house 1,250 migrants, a plan that has generated significant local backlash.
Similar concerns have been raised in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, where former military bases are being repurposed. In Linton-on-Ouse, a village of 600, plans to house up to 1,200 male asylum seekers have raised worries due to the proximity of a primary school, nursery, and play area.
Plans for RAF Barnham in west Suffolk to accommodate up to 1,250 asylum seekers have also led some parents to consider withdrawing their children from the local school.
In response to the Piddington proposal, Anna Turley, minister for border security and asylum, stated that essential services would be provided on-site. The Home Office affirmed its commitment to housing asylum seekers fairly across the country and working with local authorities to minimize community impact. They also noted a decrease in asylum costs by £1 billion since the general election and a reduction in the number of individuals receiving support, while continuing efforts to close asylum hotels and transition to alternative accommodations.
Separately, former Conservative health minister Edwina Currie faced criticism for a comment suggesting that asylum seekers housed near Piddington would need a brothel, which she later described as a deliberately provocative remark intended to highlight issues with current migrant accommodation policies. She stated that the primary solution is to prevent arrivals and expedite the return of those who enter illegally.