A LEADING councillor has branded the Home Secretary’s policy on asylum seekers “cruel and reminiscent of bad days in history” as Colchester Council welcomes “more positive” moves to provide new homes for refugees in the city.

Mark Cory, the authority’s finance boss, made the comment as Colchester Council’s cabinet discussed a Government grant to provide more permanent accommodation for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

Colchester Council is eligible for £2,240,000 to provide 20 homes, with an additional £445,697 to deliver a minimum of two larger four-bed homes – to be allocated to households currently living in bridging accommodation.

The Home Office has been using hotels as “temporary” accommodation for thousands of asylum seekers, including several venues in Colchester.



The council will be expected to part fund or finance some of the required capital.

The council’s housing boss Julie Young told the cabinet the city’s support for refugees “has gathered pace over time”.

“We’re proud to be a borough of sanctuary and pleased to be able to support those fleeing danger or persecution, to support those individuals who have come from Afghanistan who supported our troops during that conflict, the interpreters that have come to this country," she said.


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“We also know there’s been a tremendous amount of good will from host families providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.”

She said Colchester has around 280 homeless households living in temporary accommodation, with 3,000 households on the housing register.

Mr Cory welcomed the additional funding and took aim at Home Secretary Suella Braverman over plans for a Migration Bill.

The controversial proposals to curb Channel crossings would see refugees arriving by boats detained, removed and banned for life from claiming asylum in the UK.

Mr Cory said: “It is good to see finally a more sustainable footing in how we can actually house those people fleeing from these places of conflict.

“It’s quite different to the recent way in which the Home Secretary has been really cruel and I think reminiscent of bad days in past history and I think we don’t want to go down that line, so I welcome this more positive step.”

Council leader David King, who has been vocal in his criticism of the use of hotels to house refugees and asylum seekers, said: “This reinforces our capacity, limited though it is, to give help where we can.”