Ministers will face a legal challenge over plans to convert a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers.
asserted
Ministers → face → seekers
It emerged on Thursday that Angela Rayner, the housing and communities secretary, had approved full planning permission, a decision welcomed by the Home Office, who want to end the use of asylum hotels.
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who → emerge → hotels
Tim McNally, the local parish council chair, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there would be “many actions” by villagers, and that ministers should “absolutely” be braced for a legal challenge, which would need to be lodged within the next six weeks.
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which → tell → weeks
Ministers have faced opposition over the plans from villagers, who even made a symbolic attempt to declare the village independent from the rest of the country after a referendum of its 350 residents.
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village → face → residents
Asked how the village would respond, McNally said: “There’s going to be many actions, you will see.
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you → ask → ?
We will disclose that as we move forward.”
Asked if ministers should be braced for a legal challenge, he said: “Absolutely, absolutely.”
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he → disclose → challenge
Campaigners could also apply the new Hillsborough law, which is being considered by parliament.
uncertain
which → apply → parliament
Once passed, the law would create a legally enforceable duty of candour that compels public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place.
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investigations → pass → place
“Today is a day of reflection, and we’ll work out where we plan to go from this point.
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we → work → point
But I will say, the Hillsborough law is there for a reason, and we’re going to apply it,” he said.
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he → say → it
Luke Pollard, a defence minister, said the government would continue to engage with the community.
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government → say → community
He told LBC: “It’s pretty obvious that there’s a strong sense of feeling from the community around Bicester, especially in Piddington.
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It → tell → Piddington
“The Home Office continues to engage with those.
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Office → continue → those
There’s still a few more stages to go here, so it’s not yet fully locked in and delivered, so that we can understand where the concerns are, so they can be mitigated.”
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they → ’ → ?
A Home Office spokesperson said a final decision to proceed had yet to be taken.
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decision → say → ?
“The government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1bn saved in costs since the election.
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1bn → work → election
“This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites.
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This → include → sites
These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to minimise the impact on the local community.”
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These → design → community
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, said the plans were a “betrayal of the women of Piddington” and “emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner’s disregard for the law and women and girls’ safety”.
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plans → say → law
She said on social media: “When I visited Piddington I met a village terrified of what was about to land on their doorstep.
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I → say → doorstep
The government said it was listening, instead it’s completely ignored this community’s concerns.
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it → say → concerns
“The 1,000+ male migrants that Labour are about to deposit in Oxfordshire are in Britain illegally.
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Labour → deposit → Britain
They should be deported as soon as possible.”
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They → deport → ?
The Aporia
