The UK immigration minister has been branded “tone deaf” to concerns after he said asylum seekers have the best conditions in Europe.
In the House of Commons, Chris Philp, Immigration Minister earlier said that asylum seekers get free accommodation, free council tax, a daily allowance and free health care and education for children.
He said: “We look after them much better than many other European countries. I’m proud of our record and I am happy to defend it.”
He also said: “These hotels are of good quality, (the Park Inn) a three star Radisson hotel with en-suite showers.”
Stewart McDonald, Glasgow South SNP MP, said “Those of us who represent Glasgow are utterly horrified at the tone deaf remarks of the minister when he talks about how lovely these hotel rooms are. Could he stay for several weeks during lockdown?
“The UK Government has been posted missing on the issue of asylum accommodation that many of us have been jumping up and down about for months.”
Anne McLaughlin, Glasgow North East SNP MP, had asked: “We are sick of people being treated like this. It’s happening on his watch”
However, Mr Philp said: “I’m not going to apologise for an approach on public health.
Alison Thewliss had secured an urgent Question on asylum accommodation following the knife attack at the Park Inn and concerns raised about the conditions people were being kept in.
She told the House of Commons there had been two deaths in the hotels since lockdown including of the asylum seeker who carried out what she described as a “shocking knife attack”.
Ms Thewliss called for the contact to be suspended and for the Home office to work with Glasgow City Council and asylum seekers to return people to appropriate accommodation as soon as possible.”
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