Politics & Council · Swindon
Swindon councillors back motion over 'disproportionate' asylum accommodation
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Swindon Borough Council has voted to lobby the government for a pause in increasing asylum accommodation, citing a disproportionate share of regional placements.
Swindon Borough Council has passed a formal motion expressing concern over the levels of asylum seeker accommodation in the town. The decision follows a debate in the council chamber where councillors argued that Swindon is currently hosting a disproportionate share of the South West's asylum population relative to its size.
The motion, which was brought forward by Reform UK and received support from Conservative councillors, requests that the Home Office stops increasing accommodation capacity within the borough until a better balance across the region can be achieved. According to figures presented during the meeting, there were 511 people receiving asylum support in Swindon as of 30 June 2026. This total included 448 people in dispersal accommodation, 52 in contingency housing, and 11 receiving subsistence-only support.
Proponents of the motion claimed that while the borough accommodates roughly 15 per cent of all supported asylum seekers across the South West, its population makes up only about four per cent of the region's total. Reform councillor Colin Lovell, who opened the debate, emphasised that the focus was on the fairness of the distribution process and the impact on local council services rather than the individuals themselves.
Council leader Gary Sumner supported the move, stating that the primary concern is the pressure placed on local authority services. He noted that the council requires proper consultation and adequate funding when national decisions have local impacts. The motion also tasks the council leader with writing to the Home Secretary to highlight these concerns and requests that the town's MPs raise the matter in Parliament.
The debate saw opposition from Labour councillors, who raised significant concerns about the nature of the motion. Labour deputy leader Emma Bushell criticised the proposal, arguing that it failed to offer practical solutions and risked targeting vulnerable people who have experienced hardship. Labour group leader Jim Robbins also urged councillors to reconsider the motion, describing it as a divisive measure that did not represent the interests of all residents.
The council is now expected to provide annual public updates regarding asylum accommodation figures, government funding levels, and any identified effects on council services moving forward. The Home Office remains responsible for all decisions regarding the allocation of asylum accommodation, as well as the provision of associated funding to local authorities.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original