Councillors passed a motion defending the right to seek safety from war and persecution at a meeting of Middlesbrough Council on 27 March. The motion condemned the government’s “anti-refugee policies”, which it says are leaving people seeking asylum in Middlesbrough in limbo and unable to work, while paying tribute to Middlesbrough’s proud welcoming history.
Anti-refugee measures
Government’s anti-refugee measures include the recent Illegal Migration Act and the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act, which punish refugees for seeking safety and pave the way for the creation of warehouse-style refugee camps on UK soil.
The motion, proposed by Councillor Matt Storey, means Middlesbrough Council will refuse to cooperate with any UK government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Middlesbrough to detain or warehouse people seeking safety.
The council will also now sign up to a national pledge to defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK because of the motion.
Councillor Matt Storey said:
“Middlesbrough should celebrate the tremendous diversity of our communities as one of our town’s greatest strengths. That’s why Labour proposed this motion. Not only is warehousing vulnerable people fleeing war, poverty and persecution on barges and in other unsuitable facilities extremely cruel, it’s extremely expensive. The National Audit Office has said the government’s attempts to place people seeking safety on barges, student accommodation and in disused military bases cost £46 million more than hotels, which is clearly a huge waste of taxpayers’ money. Labour’s motion ensures Middlesbrough will play no part in this cruel and expensive gimmick.”
Councillor Ed Clynch, who spoke in support of the motion, said:
“Middlesbrough Labour has always stood up for vulnerable people in our town and that’s why we have passed this motion which tells government their unacceptable treatment of asylum seekers and refugees isn’t welcome in Middlesbrough.”
Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald added:
“Middlesbrough Council has made a powerful statement by making it policy to refuse to cooperate with any government plans to detain or warehouse people seeking safety and I applaud Middlesbrough Labour councillors for bringing this motion.
“Recent government policies on people seeking asylum are nothing but either cruel or money wasting gimmicks and serve absolutely nobody’s best interests. Middlesbrough Council is right to say no.”
