A press conference in Piddington descended into a shouting match between Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Reform UK's Zia Yusuf, as both sought to channel villagers' anger over plans for a new asylum accommodation site.
The clash came after Communities Secretary Angela Rayner granted planning permission on Thursday night for accommodation for 1,256 male asylum seekers at a Ministry of Defence site in Bicester, despite strong opposition from the nearby village.
Philp Tells Yusuf to 'Read the Room'
During the live exchange, Mr Yusuf pressed Mr Philp on the Conservatives' record, asking: "Would you like to actually apologise for the things that you did in government to bring hundreds of thousands of people into this country illegally? Are you going to take the opportunity to apologise to the people of Piddington and to the country?"
Mr Philp responded: "That is disingenuous as usual Zia." He insisted the Tories had a proper plan rather than "cheap slogans", saying: "Rather than just trying to chase headlines, we've done the serious work." He repeatedly told his Reform rival to "read the room, listen to the people clapping" and to stop "point scoring".
Mr Yusuf countered that Mr Philp was "heavily involved in immigration and borders policy", prompting further interruptions from the Tory MP, who said: "read the room, the public want you to pipe down on the cheap politics." He added: "You are in a hole, stop digging." Mr Yusuf maintained that the Tories had failed to control the country's borders and that an apology was needed, while Mr Philp blamed Labour for the arrival of the men who would be housed at the site.
Village Warns of Legal Challenge
Piddington residents have warned the Government to prepare for a legal challenge to the plans. Parish council chairman Tim McNally told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's going to be many actions, you will see. We will disclose that as we move forward. Today is a day of reflection, and we'll work out where we plan to go from this point." Asked if ministers should brace for a legal challenge, he said: "Absolutely, absolutely."
Labour has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, after their use increased under the Conservatives. Demand for asylum accommodation remains high, so the Government must find alternative sites such as former military barracks. The Prime Minister has said refugees should be housed across the country, rather than only in the poorest communities, where asylum hotels have become a point of tension.
Government Response
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State has granted full planning permission for the temporary, phased use of the former MoD Bicester storage site. As the decision may be subject to legal challenge, it would not be appropriate to comment further."
A Home Office spokesperson added: "Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester. However, a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken. The Government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1billion saved in costs since the election."
"This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites. These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to minimise the impact on the local community." There is now a six-week window in which the decision can face a legal challenge.
