Tensions over the housing of asylum seekers have erupted into public demonstrations across Scotland, putting pressure on the Scottish Government as local authorities and opposition parties call for changes to dispersal policies.
Protests have taken place outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers in Perth, Aberdeenshire and Falkirk, drawing hundreds of people in some cases. First Minister John Swinney described demonstrations outside migrant hotels as "distasteful" and "completely unacceptable," remarks that have drawn criticism from protesters and opponents who say government policy, not demonstrators, should be the focus of public concern.
The demonstrations follow several high-profile incidents and reports that have fuelled public debate. The Mail on Sunday reported that a man who later faced rape charges after claiming asylum in the UK had previously travelled to multiple European cities, and published images of him in tourist settings prior to arrival in Britain. The case has been cited by some protesters and politicians as evidence of failures in migration controls; police and courts are handling the criminal matter. Separately, local authorities and charities have warned that the continued use of hotels and other temporary accommodation places strain on housing, homelessness services and public finances.
Glasgow City Council has repeatedly raised concerns about the number of asylum seekers in the city. Council leader Susan Aitken said the authority was facing an estimated £90 million budget gap, with about £66 million attributed to an overspend on homelessness services. The council asked the Home Office earlier this year for a temporary pause on new asylum dispersals, saying it did not have sufficient accommodation or funding to manage current levels. Glasgow hosted more asylum seekers than any other British city, with 4,193 people receiving support at the end of last year, according to figures cited by the council.
The practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels continued after the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing scrutiny in a 2022 independent inquiry led by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC. That inquiry produced critical findings about the policy of rehousing asylum seekers in hotels and highlighted risks to wellbeing and support services.
Officials and politicians in affected areas say the pressures are compounded by wider policy decisions. SNP ministers have maintained a broadly welcoming stance on migration and have not imposed a cap on numbers, while blaming the UK Government for border control arrangements. The Scottish Government has limited power over immigration policy, which is reserved to Westminster, but it does manage local service provision where costs have risen.
The debate over migration has political ramifications. Polling cited by local media has shown public concern about immigration: a February Norstat survey reported that 77 percent of Scots wanted immigration to either decrease or remain at current levels. Recent polling also suggests rising support for Reform UK in Scotland ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament election, with some surveys indicating the party drawing level with or ahead of Labour in voter intention on Westminster votes.
Cross-party responses have varied. Earlier this year Mr. Swinney convened a so-called "civic gathering" that brought together party leaders and representatives from roughly 50 organisations to discuss political polarisation and the rise of hard-right views. The event was intended to bolster democratic resilience but prompted criticism from some commentators and political figures who said it highlighted elite concerns rather than the views of communities most affected by migration and housing pressures.
Local leaders have detailed incidents that have intensified public unease. In 2020 an asylum seeker was stabbed at a Glasgow hotel in an attack later linked to the mental health struggles of the assailant; the attacker was shot dead by police. City leaders warned in 2023 that a surge in grantings of refugee status had led to an "unprecedented" strain on housing and services as people moved out of temporary accommodation and entered the local housing market.
Scottish local authorities continue to press for additional funding and a more managed approach to dispersal. The Home Office and the Scottish Government have been engaged in talks over funding, accommodation capacity and safeguarding arrangements, but local officials say urgent action is needed to avert further deterioration in services.
The demonstrations and political debate underscore the complex split in responsibility between UK-wide immigration control and locally delivered services. As public meetings and protests continue, elected officials at Holyrood and in local councils face pressure to reconcile national policy constraints with immediate local needs while addressing public concern over safety, housing and the costs borne by councils.