- Greens reject Tory motion on “migrant hotels” as scapegoating.
- Call for a fast, fair asylum system and right to work.
- Warn against divisive rhetoric – Southend is built on compassion.
The Green Party has responded to the Conservative motion calling for an injunction to prevent the use of Southend hotels for asylum seekers.
There are currently no so-called “migrant hotels” in the city.
“There shouldn’t be any need to use hotels for accommodation for Asylum Seekers, and it’s sad to see the Conservatives are weaponising vulnerable people to score political points. This motion doesn’t solve anything – it just blames individuals fleeing war and persecution, while ignoring the real causes of this crisis: years of government failure to fund asylum processing, cuts to foreign aid, Brexit, Climate Change, and disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“What we need is a fair and efficient system that quickly processes asylum claims, action against those exploiting people in the grey economy, and safe routes so people aren’t forced into dangerous crossings.”
Cllr Stuart Allen
Green Group Leader, Southend City Council
“This is where the legacy of 14 years of Conservative government has led us. They allowed a massive backlog of asylum claims which has resulted in local hotels being used for accommodation.
“The Green Party embraces the right to claim asylum, in any country, as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And we need a fast and fair process to assess asylum applications.
“It is inhumane, as well as costly to UK tax payers, to have to wait years for a decision.
“The UK Government quite rightly created safe and legal routes for people fleeing Ukraine. They need to offer the same to others seeking safety from similarly dangerous situations.
“We also want to see those seeking asylum and protection to be allowed to work while their application is being decided. That’s the way to get them out of hotels and able to look after themselves and contributing to local communities.”
Ellie Chowns, MP
Green Party Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
The Green Party warned that the language used by Southend Conservatives – referring to “protecting our city”, “preserving our community” and “illegal immigrants” – is toxic and divisive.
Southend Greens said this is the kind of rhetoric that sets people against one another, and is not worthy of a compassionate and welcoming city.
“Southend is better than this Tory motion. We are a city built on compassion and community, and we should be showing leadership by standing up for fairness, decency, and humanity,” the party said.
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