Napier Barracks was deliberate. Immigration Ministers deliberately created a shortage of dispersal accomm during the pandemic, then used that as an excuse for urgently placing people in a barracks. Without safeguards.
Speed and lack of planning was the plan.
Speed and lack of planning was the plan.
https://twitter.com/squeakinglyjen/status/1400430417182855174
In March 2020, senior civil servants urged Ministers to use the pandemic to drop their policy of allowing local authorities to veto placing asylum-seekers in empty flats and houses.
Ministers didn’t accept that advice. +
Ministers didn’t accept that advice. +
Instead, Ministers used their powers to create new temporary accommodation sites - regardless of local authority wishes.
Suitable for stays of days at most, asylum-seekers were forced to stay for months. +
Suitable for stays of days at most, asylum-seekers were forced to stay for months. +
If Ministers were willing to ignore local authorities opposed to barracks, why do they allow LAs a veto over empty flats - and pretend they “can’t” find flats?
One explanation is that Ministers prefer crisis and dangerous accommodation.
But I’m open to other explanations.
One explanation is that Ministers prefer crisis and dangerous accommodation.
But I’m open to other explanations.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
