Wethersfield asylum centre wants to shut, says prime minister

Simon Dedman

BBC Political Reporter, Essex

PA Media Sir Keir Starmer looks animated as he is speaking. He is wearing a suit, dark glasses and has a microphone attached to his left lapel. There are a number of police officers behind him, dressed in uniforms. — The PM informed the BBC one of the best ways to shut Wethersfield was to extend the variety of asylum circumstances being processed

The Prime Minister has refused to place a date on when an asylum centre at a former RAF station in Essex will shut.

Throughout the basic election marketing campaign Sir Keir Starmer stated MDP Wethersfield, which has been used to home single male migrants since 2023, wanted to shut.

“The best way to shut down and in addition to make sure that we do not have taxpayer paying for resort payments throughout the nation for asylum seekers is to course of the [asylum] claims and get management of our borders,” he stated, talking on Thursday.

Conservative MP James Cleverly, whose constituency consists of Wethersfield, stated “Labour misled” voters about immigration through the marketing campaign.

On a go to to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, the BBC requested the prime minister 3 times when MDP Wethersfield would shut, however he didn’t give a date.

“We’re processing the claims, on account of that we have now now returned 24,000 individuals who should not be within the nation again to the nation they’ve got here from – that’s the highest fee of return for the last decade,” stated Sir Keir.

The previous Wethersfield air base has housed asylum seekers since July 2023

PA Media Aerial shot of the housing blocks on RAF Wethersfield. Four rectangular accommodation blocks can be seen, surrounding by grass, trees and some road and cars. There are fields in the background. — The previous Wethersfield air base has housed asylum seekers since July 2023

Residents have criticised the usage of the bottom and Cleverly has described it as an “remoted website” the place there’s “not a lot for these younger males to do”.

The Braintree MP added: “Labour misled voters forward of the final election with guarantees about immigration and particularly about Wethersfield.”

The Helen Bamber Basis, a human rights charity whose officers have clinically assessed a number of the male asylum seekers on the bottom, stated: “We proceed to witness a big deterioration of their psychological and bodily well being on account of dwelling there.

“They face excessive isolation, are pressured to share rooms, and battle to entry important providers, leaving many feeling trapped in what they describe as an ‘open jail’.”

In February, the Dwelling Workplace elevated the cap on the variety of asylum seekers who can dwell on the former RAF station from 580 to 800.

A Dwelling Workplace Spokesperson has stated: “This authorities inherited an asylum system below unprecedented pressure.

“That has inevitably meant troublesome selections elsewhere within the quick time period, together with rising capability at Wethersfield.”

In September, the Dwelling Workplace introduced that RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire wouldn’t be used for asylum seekers and the location could be closed.

In November, the federal government ended the usage of the Bibby Stockholm barge moored off Dorset to deal with migrants.

The particular growth order that permits the federal government to make use of MDP Wethersfield to deal with asylum seekers expires in April 2027, however the authorities may lengthen its use past this date.