Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly faces legal action from Reform UK and Conservative councils if he goes ahead with his plan to house more asylum seekers in wealthier areas.
Burnham's announcement
Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that the Government will make sure arrivals are not only placed in "the poorest" communities in the country, and that wealthier communities must also "play their part" in hosting asylum seekers.
He told GB News: "It's obviously going to be challenging, but I am prepared always to listen to people, to work with people, and to pick up legitimate concerns, and I will address those concerns. I do have to say, we cannot have a situation where it's only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers. I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part."
He added: "We understand people's concerns and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington."
Threat of legal action
Reform UK said it would resist efforts by the Prime Minister to redistribute asylum seekers across the country, including by launching judicial reviews, while the Conservatives said they were "considering all options" to prevent asylum seekers from being moved into Tory-controlled areas, The Telegraph reports.
A spokesman for Reform said: "Andy Burnham's plan to dump illegal migrants in more expensive areas is an insult to taxpayers and councils being forced to pick up the bill, while putting local communities at risk."
"Reform-run councils will resist Labour forcing illegal migrants on their communities, including via judicial reviews, HMO [houses in multiple occupation] directions and planning laws."
"Reform will not stand by while Andy Burnham and the Left impose their failed immigration policies on councils and taxpayers who never voted for these policies."
Matt Vickers, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, also said: "The Conservatives are considering all options to help councils resist their areas being forced to take on asylum seekers. Rather than simply moving people around in an attempt to punish Middle England, Burnham should focus on stopping the crossings."
Government response and Channel crossings
Article 4 Directions allows councils, in certain circumstances, to remove permitted development rights. Normally, converting a family home into a small HMO for up to six people can be carried out without a full planning application, but where an Article 4 Direction applies, the council can require the owner to seek planning permission before carrying out the conversion.
A Government spokesman told The Telegraph: "We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation."
"The number of asylum seekers receiving support is decreasing, and the number 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 £1bn since the general election. We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, working closely with local authorities, and listening to local concerns to reduce the impact on communities."
A record 230 people travelled on a single vessel to Britain and arrived in the early hours of Monday. This marks the largest number to make the journey in a single vessel. A photograph taken in northern France shows the 15-metre-long (49ft) inflatable vessel packed so tightly that several passengers were forced to sit with their legs hanging over the sides.
A provisional 15,242 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, representing a 43% fall compared with the same period in 2025. The number of boats successfully making the journey has also dropped by 49%. The Home Office recorded its lowest July total for Channel crossings since 2020 last month, the BBC reported.
