Burnham has suggested that wealthier areas should be expected to play a role in housing asylum seekers, amid scrutiny of plans to use a former military base for accommodation.
The issue arose as the prime minister was asked about protests connected to proposals to house asylum seekers at the former military site. The location of the base, the scale of the accommodation plan and the nature of the protests were not specified in the available details.
Burnham’s comments place emphasis on how responsibility for asylum accommodation is shared between different communities. His suggestion was that affluent areas should not be excluded from playing a part in housing people seeking asylum.
The matter brings together two linked points: public opposition to the use of a former military base and the wider question of where asylum seekers should be accommodated. No further details were provided on the prime minister’s response to the questions.
The latest known position is that the accommodation proposal has prompted protests, while Burnham has indicated that wealthy areas should also contribute to the housing of asylum seekers.
