Green deputy leader Rachel Millward is leading opposition to the housing of 600 asylum seekers in her local area – despite her party’s vow to ‘welcome’ migrants.
In a recent letter to the Home Office, Ms Millward complained about Government plans to temporarily use a military site in East Sussex as asylum accommodation.
She said her ‘strong objection’ to the use of Crowborough training camp for housing migrants was based on ‘safety’ fears for both locals and asylum seekers themselves.
Ms Millward, who is also deputy leader of Wealden District Council, penned a joint letter with the local authority’s leader James Partridge, a Liberal Democrat.
It stated: ‘We simply do not have information to reassure us that the wellbeing and safety of both asylum seekers and local communities will be properly safeguarded.’
The councillors added that ‘quite clearly accommodating 600 men on one site with no right to work brings significant risks’.
They expressed their concerns about staffing resources at the camp, policing, and ‘the additional strain on already over-stretched public services’.
Ms Millward was announced as one of the Greens’ new co-deputy leaders in September.
It came ahead of the party’s conference last month, at which leader Zack Polanski told activists: ‘We’ll say it loud, and we’ll say it clear, migrants and refugees are welcome here.’
Green deputy leader Rachel Millward is leading opposition to the housing of 600 asylum seekers in her local area – despite her party’s vow to ‘welcome’ migrant
Hundreds of people attended a protest this weekend against the plans to house asylum seekers at a military site in East Sussex
The Ministry of Defence has offered Crowborough training camp to the Home Office as accommodation for asylum seekers for a period of 12 months
In his conference speech, Mr Polanski also attacked the Labour Government’s promise to clampdown on both legal and illegal immigration.
He set out the Greens’ plan to stop small boat crossings across the Channel by opening up ‘safe and legal routes’ for asylum seekers to come to Britain.
In her own conference speech, Ms Millward also repeated the party’s message that ‘refugees are welcome here’.
The Ministry of Defence has offered Crowborough training camp to the Home Office as accommodation for asylum seekers for a period of 12 months.
It is part of the Government’s plans to end the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers.
The East Sussex site was recently used as transitional accommodation for Afghan citizens with the right to resettle in the UK.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake posted on X: ‘The Deputy Leader of The Green Party, whose members consistently voted against the Illegal Migration Act (Rwanda), is now objecting to the housing of illegal migrants in her area.
‘Do as I say…….’
In a recent letter to the Home Office, Ms Millward said her ‘strong objection’ was based on ‘safety’ fears for both locals and asylum seekers themselves
The Home Office said it was ‘working closely with local authorities, police, and community partners to ensure the site operates safely and respectfully, with robust measures in place to support community cohesion and maintain public safety at all times’.
Hundreds of people attended a protest this weekend against the plans to house asylum seekers at the military site.
A Home Office spokesperson said ‘the right to protest is fundamental to our democracy’.
The spokesperson added: ‘This Government will close every asylum hotel.
‘Work is well under way, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities across the country.’