Public safety is top priority in asylum hotel row says Labour

Cllr Sally Keeble, Labour Group leader, has called campaigns to force precipitative closure of asylum hotels a "race to the bottom" and praised local groups who have enabled a relatively peaceful situation around the hotels in West Northamptonshire.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Labour Group, she said: "Our top priority must be public well-being and safety – whether people are living in the community or in hotels.

"It’s right that, in complying with its duties as the planning authority, West Northamptonshire Council should proceed carefully to ensure that any enforcement action it takes is well grounded in planning law. It also needs to have regard to the need to ensure that any decanting of the hotels does not result in people living rough. That will not serve anyone’s well-being or safety.

"Everyone agrees that the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers is unsustainable and must end. The disagreements are over how quickly this should be achieved, and where the asylum seekers should be rehoused. We are all looking for answers to those questions.

"We recognise the achievements of the Government in scaling down the use of asylum hotels from a peak of about 400 to just over 200 now, and support the phasing out of them altogether.

"Meanwhile, there is no benefit from a race to the bottom by political parties urging precipitative closure of the hotels. This is divisive, irresponsible and could have unintended consequences that would make the situation worse.

"We applaud the enormous contribution to society by faith and community organisations who have worked quietly and consistently to build bridges between the asylum-seeking and wider community around the hotels. They have played a major role in enabling a relatively peaceful co-existence in West Northamptonshire."