Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK and a prominent Brexiteer, has launched a scathing attack on the Home Office, after it was revealed that the department has secured 16,000 properties across the UK for asylum seekers. Tice called the move a “catastrophe of incompetence” and accused the Home Office of failing to control the borders and the immigration system.
Tice made his remarks on GB News, where he hosts a daily show called Britain’s Newsroom. He said that the Home Office’s policy of housing asylum seekers in private and social rented properties was “outrageous” and “unacceptable”, especially at a time when many young people and families are struggling to find affordable and decent housing in the country.
According to Gbnews, Tice claimed that the Home Office was “taking away” properties that could be used by British citizens, and that it was creating “ghettos” and “no-go areas” by concentrating the asylum seekers in certain regions, such as Hull, Bradford and Teesside¹. He also questioned the legality and the morality of the policy, and said that it was encouraging more illegal and dangerous crossings of the Channel by migrants.
Tice called for a radical reform of the asylum system, and said that the UK should adopt a similar approach to Australia, which sends asylum seekers to offshore processing centres or third countries. He said that the UK should also deport those who have no right to remain in the country, and that it should invest more in border security and cooperation with France.
Tice’s comments were echoed by some of his guests on the show, such as former First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster, who said that the Home Office’s policy was “shocking” and “disgraceful”, and that it was undermining the confidence and the trust of the British people in the government¹. Foster also said that the policy was damaging the social cohesion and the integration of the asylum seekers, and that it was creating resentment and division among the communities.
However, Tice’s comments were also challenged by some of his guests and critics, who accused him of spreading misinformation and fearmongering about the asylum seekers. They said that Tice was exaggerating the numbers and the impact of the asylum seekers, and that he was ignoring the legal and humanitarian obligations of the UK to provide protection and support to those who are fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries.
They also said that Tice was scapegoating the asylum seekers for the housing crisis, and that he was overlooking the real causes and solutions of the problem, such as the lack of supply, the high demand, the low wages, the high rents, and the inadequate policies of the government²³. They also said that Tice was promoting a harsh and inhumane approach to the asylum seekers, and that he was disregarding the human rights and the dignity of the migrants.
The Home Office has defended its policy of reserving 16,000 properties for asylum seekers, and said that it was a cheaper and more discreet option than using hotels, which have been costing up to £8 million a day. The department also said that it was working with local authorities and contractors to ensure that the properties are suitable and safe for the asylum seekers, and that they are distributed fairly and proportionately across the country.
The Home Office also said that it was committed to speeding up the asylum process and reducing the backlog of cases, which currently stands at about 100,000. The department also said that it was fulfilling its legal and moral obligations to provide accommodation and support to asylum seekers, who are fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries. The department also said that it was working to deter illegal and dangerous crossings of the Channel, and to return those who have no right to remain in the UK.
The issue of asylum and immigration has been a contentious and divisive one in the UK, especially after the Brexit vote and the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, as well as from human rights groups and international organisations, for its handling of the situation. The government has also faced legal challenges and protests from some of the asylum seekers and their supporters, who have demanded better conditions and treatment.
