The prime minister’s comments were made as residents of the Oxfordshire village of Piddington objected to asylum accommodation plans at a former defense base.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that wealthier areas should house more illegal immigrants as a leafy Oxfordshire village continued its campaign against plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers at a site owned by the Ministry of Defense.
Burnham made his comments in an interview with GB News in response to residents’ concerns in the village of Piddington, next to the proposed site. On July 4, 96 percent of residents voted in favor of holding a referendum on a symbolic “declaration of independence” from the rest of the UK, if the plans proceed.
Children from the village last week wrote to the newly-appointed Labour prime minister to voice their fears about the use of defense site Bicester.
Burnham said Labour is willing to listen to the concerns of the people of Piddington, but added that more affluent parts of the country will also have to “play their part” in taking in those who enter the country illegally, after a record number of 230 entered on a “mega dinghy” on Monday.
“I have begun to become aware of the campaign from Piddington,” he said, adding that he is willing to meet with residents and hear their concerns.
“I do have to say we cannot have a situation where it’s only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers,” the prime minister added.
“I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part. It’s a challenging issue.”
Piddington parish council chairman Tim MacNally wrote on X on Aug. 12 that it matters that Burnham had acknowledged Piddington, “but acknowledgement is not action.”
MacNally invited the prime minister to visit the village and explain “how placing 1,250 men beside a community of just 350 adults can possibly be fair, safe or responsible.”
In a video, McNally said that the proposed migrant camp would be “bigger than a prison, and yet there’d be no prison facilities,” adding that it would place a huge strain on already overstretched resources, in terms of healthcare.
