Havering Must Stand Firm Against Government Asylum Housing Plans ‘We Are at Breaking Point’.
Havering leaders are expected to say no to any plans to house asylum seekers in council properties, as local leaders warn the borough is already at breaking point and cannot cope with further pressure on public services.
Havering and Redbridge Reform Greater London Authority Member Keith Prince has hit out at the Labour Government’s plans to look to local councils to house asylum seekers in council owned properties in a bid to end the use of hotels.
Mr Prince, who is also a Squirrels Heath ward councillor, spoke exclusively to the Havering Daily and said Havering must stand firm against any such move.
“As a council we need to stand forthright against any moves by the Labour Government to place asylum seekers in Havering. Havering is at breaking point. Our local services are on their knees and the most clear example of this is Queen’s Hospital. Any unneeded added pressure on our services locally must be completely opposed.”
The Government’s proposal would see councils expected to provide housing for asylum seekers as part of a nationwide strategy to phase out hotel accommodation. However, Mr Prince says this would come at a direct cost to local residents.
“The scheme would mean council houses would be used to house asylum seekers. But Havering already struggles to house its own residents, with housing being one of the key issues facing the council. We simply do not have the infrastructure to support the arrival of further people.”
He again highlighted Queen’s Hospital as a critical pressure point.
“Queen’s Hospital is already stretched to its limits. Anyone who lives in Havering knows that. Adding further demand onto health services, housing and social care would be irresponsible.”
Mr Prince said he expects Havering Council to refuse to take part in the scheme and urged local housing bodies to stand alongside residents.
“I hope that the Havering Residents Association will stand alongside Havering residents and oppose any move by Labour to place asylum seekers here in Havering.”
It is believed Havering Council will not agree to participate in the scheme, which is voluntary for local authorities. With housing shortages, long waiting lists and pressure on frontline services already dominating local politics, opposition to the proposals is expected to be strong across the borough.
As the national debate over asylum accommodation intensifies, Havering appears set to draw a clear line, with local leaders warning that the borough cannot and should not be asked to take on more when residents themselves are struggling to access housing, healthcare and basic service.
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The trouble is that this government, and other UK Governments for too many decades, have just capitulated against the invasion of immigrants into Britain. Forever telling the indigenous people of this once great Country what a benefit they are to the economy. The truth is it is just overload in the extreme for such a small country and it is never ending. Now shallow attempts to disguise the problem are only falling the people who allowed the problem in the first place, that is our weak Politicians.
Ordinary citizens know too well what a disaster such high immigration into Britain has been, and know too that the vast majority of newcomers to our shores, especially those on rubber boats, are only coming here to benefit theirselves. The majority of them must be coming here cap in hand for the handouts.
Check the hospital corridors situation, house prices, overcrowded Dentists and Doctors, schools, roads. Most of the problems are just down to being too many people and not enough space or resources, and certainly not enough money in the kitty.
At least the Conservatives, admittedly far too late got Rwanda off the ground, but of course that was abandoned by this current weak Labour government who had know idea how, or maybe never any intention of stopping the problem. Hence this latest stupid idea. Get them out of hotels and spread the volume. They think the problem will go away then but everyone knows it won’t of course.