Andy Burnham Accused of Bypassing Communities on Asylum Sites

Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces accusations of bypassing rural communities in a bid to move asylum seekers to disused military sites.

Labour announced in June that it planned to house migrants at three former bases, including RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. Residents in Linton-on-Ouse, a village with roughly 600 residents, are urging councillors to reject plans to move 1,200 asylum seekers into the local RAF base. Fears exist that women in the village could soon be outnumbered six to one.

Retired secretary Christine Crouch, 77, expressed unhappiness with the plan. For two other sites, MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire and MoD Barnham in Suffolk, the government is pursuing a fast-track planning process. This process submits applications directly to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, bypassing local council consideration. Calum Miller, the Lib Dem MP for Bicester & Woodstock, accused Burnham of bypassing local scrutiny and showing contempt for local people.

The Prime Minister defended the proposal, arguing that people in more affluent areas would have to do their share in housing asylum seekers. The number of small boat migrants arriving in the UK under his premiership has topped 3,000. The Green council leader of Haringey, Mark Blake, criticized Burnham's national government for failing to devolve power to introduce rent controls.

Campaigners plan to protest at RAF Fairford, calling on Burnham to end Donald Trump’s use of British bases to illegally attack Iran. Burnham has also been criticized for his silence regarding racist mobs rioting outside a hotel housing migrants in Norfolk. Some Scots indicate they do not trust Andy Burnham to work in the nation's best interests, according to a new poll.