Essex military base will house thousands of asylum seekers

Government ministers have unveiled plans to house thousands of asylum seekers in disused military bases to accommodate their “essential living needs and nothing more” despite legal threats from local Conservatives. An RAF base in Wethersfield north of Braintree in Essex is one of two sites in the UK that will be used.

Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, also announced he is “continuing to explore the possibility” of using ferries and barges to reduce the “eye-watering” reliance on hotels. He confirmed that RAF Wethersfield and RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire will house migrants despite threats of judicial challenges from Tories in the areas.

A source living on the base in Wethersfield has suggested that military families living there could be forced to leave to make way for refugees, which could begin as early as the start of April. Currently, only 24 families live on the former WWII RAF base.

A separate site on private land in Bexhill, East Sussex, will also be used, while Mr Jenrick said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is “showing leadership” by “bringing forward proposals” to use barracks in the Catterick Garrison within his constituency. Mr Jenrick told the Commons the Government remained committed to its “legal obligations” to house the destitute.

“But we’re not prepared to go further. Accommodation for migrants should meet their essential living needs and nothing more. Because we cannot risk becoming a magnet for the millions of people who are displaced and seeking better economic prospects,” he said.

Discussing the issue in the House of Commons today (March 29), Tory MP for Witham Priti Patel pressed ministers on the decision to scrap plans to turn former RAF station Linton-on-Ouse into a centre for asylum seekers and suggested RAF Wethersfield, near her constituency, would not be a suitable location.