Wealthier areas must play their part in housing asylum seekers, Burnham suggests

Andy Burnham has suggested that wealthier areas across the UK ought to shoulder more responsibility in providing accommodation for asylum seekers. His remarks were delivered in response to recent protests in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, where residents reacted strongly against government plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military base.

The government strategy aims to phase out the use of asylum hotels—an expensive form of lodging that has frequently served as a flashpoint for anti-migrant demonstrations. In June, authorities announced plans to open three additional military sites, including one near Bicester in Oxfordshire, prompting local residents in Piddington to stage a symbolic referendum on seceding from the UK.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Speaking on Tuesday, Burnham stated that he would listen to and address the concerns raised by residents, while firmly asserting that every region across the country must contribute and play its part. Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) have historically been utilized by government contractors, often concentrating asylum seekers in lower-income urban locations. Just last week, anti-immigration demonstrations erupted in Thetford, Norfolk, where demonstrators attempted to enter residences believed to house asylum seekers.