Dispersing asylum seekers into Britain’s poorest areas has been a recipe for disaster. Spiked 25/08/26 The British state’s decision to disperse asylum seekers to the poorest parts of the country has long been causing serious problems. Mainly accommodated in so-called migrant hotels and increasingly houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), asylum seekers’ presence has been the source of many issues, from rises in anti-social behaviour to pressure on already stretched public services. It has also fuelled higher rents as landlords remove family homes from the market to create bedsits. It seems that Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has recognised that locating so many asylum seekers in already deprived areas can’t go on. In his by-election victory speech in Makerfield in June, Burnham acknowledged that ‘HMO Britain’, particularly where it is connected to the refugee industry, is deeply unfair. Since then, the government has acted on its promise to close asylum hotels in place...
Prime Minister’s comments raise fears of climbdown on European students’ fees at British universities Daily Telegraph 24/08/26 Britain must be bolder to get closer to the EU, Andy Burnham has said. The Prime Minister, who has previously said he would like to rejoin the EU, told António Costa, the president of the European Council, that the country “had to be bolder in terms of getting closer to the bloc”. He also promised during discussions with senior EU figures to forge deeper relations on education, culture, defence and security. Mr Burnham’s comments will raise fears that, to achieve a broader “Brexit reset” deal with the bloc, he may agree to reduce tuition fees for EU students at British universities. Advertisement The Telegraph reported in June that Sir Keir Starmer had agreed to the concession to secure closer economic ties. However, his plans were shelved after he announced his resignation as prime minister. A Downing Street spokesman said that, in a discussion with L...