Labour MP Rachael Maskell has been branded a "hypocrite" after opposing a Government plan to house migrants near her constituency. She criticised the proposal to house 1,200 at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, citing shortages of water, sewage capacity and the supply of electricity.
MP's objections to the site
"It's just the wrong site," she said, adding that the base is located next to a primary school and nursery. There are only four buses a day into York, Ms Maskell also said.
"The last government realised that, once they got into the detail," she added. "All we're saying to this Government is that it's really important that they recognise that too, because the site is in a worse state now than it was when the government last looked at this."
2015 remarks resurface
But at a rally in 2015 amid concern about Syrian refugees as a result of the country's civil war, Ms Maskell said when speaking about the number of migrants the UK should accept: "20,000 is not enough. 30,000 is not enough. We will keep going until we hit our saturation point, because what does it matter if we have to wait another week for a hospital visit?"
Conservative London Assembly Member and former mayoral candidate, Susan Hall, wrote on X: "Oh bless. How typical of Labour. So happy to tell us what to do as long as they don't have to comply. Hypocrites, the lot of them!!"
Political backlash
Reform UK member Ben Graham posted: "Rachael Maskell wanted more migration, until the migrants were coming to a town near her. Now she says housing them in her constituency is 'unsuitable' and would strain local resources. Funny how the enthusiasm for open borders disappears when the consequences land on your doorstep."
A Home Office spokesman told The Times: "We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites. The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak in 2023. Overall asylum costs have already fallen by £1 billion since the general election. We are working to fairly disperse asylum seekers across the country, working closely with local authorities, and listening to local concerns to reduce the impact on communities."
The Express has contacted Ms Maskell for comment.
