Justice minister Jake Richards faced a backlash from BBC Breakfast viewers on Friday as he defended the Labour Party's latest plan to house asylum seekers in military sites, just days after Keir Starmer's resignation threw the party into crisis. The Home Office confirmed it is seeking planning permission to use three additional military bases in Bicester, Barnham, and Linton-on-Ouse to accommodate thousands of migrants, aiming to move them out of hotels. The government also plans to extend the use of existing sites in Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.
Minister Defends Policy Amid Criticism
Speaking from Westminster, Richards justified the expansion, stating: "Some of the sites are already housing migrants, and we have announced an extension and a widening of that process. But other sites we are announcing today that we're exploring and looking into... There is a planning process. It's right that there is consultation with communities, but we are absolutely determined to close hotels up and down the country." He emphasised the government's commitment to shutting down hotels, which he said have "done so much damage to community cohesion" and cost taxpayers significant money. "We will do whatever it takes to close those hotels, and I want your viewers to know that. And today we're announcing firm steps to take yet more action, having closed over half of them already," he concluded.
Viewers Vent Fury on Social Media
Viewers reacted angrily to Richards' comments, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration. One user wrote: "Detain & deport straight away for OUR safety is the only acceptable option at this point .. So sick of this s**t." Another added: "What doesn't this understand? We don't want illegal immigrants & asylum seekers in our prisons...hotels or army camps! They have no right to be here! Any immigrant who has committed a crime should be removed from this country along with their family! They are not welcome here!" A third chimed in: "Do not let them in the country - the British people do not want these criminals anywhere near the UK. Labour is a traitor."
Outrage Over Security and Costs
A fourth viewer fumed: "It’s outrageous and must be stopped! It really is time people woke up & stood up to this rotten government ! Unvetted men, thousands of them, along with the early release of rapists & murderers from prison ! WTF." A fifth commented: "More immigrants in their thousands now been moved into army barracks around the country, when will this industrial scale madness stop, surely this cannot continue...." Meanwhile, a sixth pondered: "Will the illegal migrants be kept inside the enclosure with 24/7 security?! If not why not?! Courts have shown time after time that we’ve absolutely no idea of the criminal records of those coming in. We simply can NOT allow undocumented & unchecked migrants to roam freely!"
Context of Labour's Crisis
The announcement comes just days after Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday June 22, plunging the Labour Party into turmoil. The Home Office's plan to use military sites aims to reduce reliance on hotels, which have been criticised for their high costs and impact on local communities. According to the government, over half of the hotels previously used have already been closed. However, the new proposals have sparked fierce debate over immigration policy and national security.
