National debate has been largely focused on migration and the continued rise in small boat crossings. The impact of this is being disproportionately felt by Hillingdon Council, who host the highest number of asylum seekers per capita of any local authority in the country.
As the port authority for Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon has always been at the sharp end of asylum pressures. This has been exacerbated since Labour took office because their decision to scrap the Rwanda deterrent has seen small boat crossings rise by more than 40% over the last twelve months.
While the Home Secretary may boast of faster processing and cutting asylum hotel bills, what she fails to mention is that these people are being pushed - without support - onto places like Hillingdon, who are expected to house them. The expense is therefore falling to local authorities and council taxpayers are footing the bill.
Already we are seeing a £5million shortfall in Hillingdon, more than the entire libraries and culture budget. The Government want to achieve their aim of closing all Home Office accommodation this parliament but without a successful deterrent to ensure the numbers come down, the cost will continue to be pushed onto local authorities. This is unsustainable and it is simply not fair to council taxpayers.
I am doing what I can to support Hillingdon Council's campaign in Westminster and developments can be followed here.
