Foreign minister detained over opposition to migrant camp by junior minister

A sign at the entrance to the village of Wethersfield where asylum seekers can be accommodated at the former RAF base. Credit: Daniel Leal/AFP

James Cleverly, Foreign Secretary, was stopped by his junior colleague over his opposition to the conversion of a former military base into a refugee camp.

Transport Minister Richard Holden told Sky News that ministers should be prepared to «take responsibility» for the migrant crisis by adopting government schemes to house asylum seekers in their constituencies.

His comments came after Mr Cleverley expressed his opposition to the conversion of the former RAF base at Wethersfield into his Braintree. constituency in Essex to a place that can accommodate up to 1,700 single male asylum seekers, more than double the 700 inhabitants living nearby.

He stated that the location was not suitable due to its remoteness, limited transport infrastructure and narrow road network.

Asked by Sky News about Mr Cleverly's opposition, Mr Holden, MP for Durham North West, said: «Well, I think everyone should take responsibility as a minister.»

Richard Holden said he has an immigration center in his own constituency that helps take in migrants. Photo: Liam McBurney/PAAsked if this includes the Foreign Minister, he replied: “Of course. I have an immigrant removal center which has been set up in my constituency to help remove illegal migrants from the UK. I think we should all get our share of it.”

Wethersfield is one of five places that the Home Office has designated to house asylum seekers. They also include the former Dambusters and Red Arrows base at RAF Scampton and Catterick Garrison Barracks in Rishi Sunaka in north Yorkshire.

Others include the former Northeye Prison in Bexhill and, as announced on Wednesday, a barge for 500 asylum seekers will be moored for 18 months at the Port of Portland, near Weymouth in Dorset. only Mr Cleverley, but also neighboring MP Priti Patel, a former home secretary, who backed the Braintree council's motion to block the plan by injunction.

This is expected to be the first legal attempt to take legal action against the government's plans to relocate migrants from hotels to larger, cheaper locations, which they believe will also act as an additional deterrent to migrants.

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“If all goes according to plan, we will see an overall reduction in the number of people crossing the English Channel,” Mr. Holden said.

Currently, 51,000 migrants are housed in hotels at a higher price. over £6 million a day. Ministers say the cost of a barge in Portland will be about three times less than the daily cost of placing one migrant in hotels (£150).