Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why do Labour not get it?

764 replies

Dacatspjs · 28/10/2025 12:30

It's being reported today that Labour want to stop using hotels and move migrants into barracks. Fine. But when quizzed on it Luke Pollard has suggested this will be more expensive, but the public want the hotels to close at all costs so it will be worth it.

This to me just seems like another step forward for Reform. The public who care about this, care about how much the government is spending on migrant housing. A new policy that costs more isn't going to go anyway towards solving this problem.

I don't know what the solution is, but spending more money getting mothballed barracks up to spec seems ludicrous.

"Asked about whether it would cost more to house migrants at military bases than in hotels, Mr Pollard insisted that 'the public want to see those hotels close'.

But he added: 'We're looking at what's possible and, in some cases, those bases may be a different cost to hotels, but I think we need to reflect the public mood on this asylum hotels need to close.'"

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
Livelovebehappy · 29/10/2025 00:25

DuncinToffee · 29/10/2025 00:13

Safety is likely to be their top priority, to live, love and be happy.

But to live, love and be happy in their own little set ups isn’t beneficial to anyone else who lives here. It’s divisive and creates mistrust. Multiculturism was sold to us as one big happy family where we all share our cultures and live happily side by side learning from each other. But the reality is so different.

Livelovebehappy · 29/10/2025 00:18

38thparallel · 28/10/2025 22:19

It’s not illegal to seek asylum but they are not doing it via an approved route.

I asked this question upthread but didn’t get a reply so I’ll try again:
If it is legal to claim asylum what laws are those organising the dinghies crossing the channel breaking?
If the gangs are indeed illegal then how can Starmer smash them when they are operating in France?
Do any other countries with high levels of refugees also try to ‘smash the gangs’?

His ‘smashing the gangs’ rhetoric is absolute BS. There are literally queues of people ready and able to replace the ‘smashed’ ones. It’s like whac-a-mole. As soon as one gang is got rid of, another will pop up to take their place. . .

DuncinToffee · 29/10/2025 00:13

Livelovebehappy · 29/10/2025 00:03

That’s the point. There is no diversity because people who come to live here develop their own communities to exclude others. They have no interest in integrating. That’s not why they’re here. Do you think that that’s at the top of their priorities when they come here? That they want to mix and make friends with the lovely British people?

Safety is likely to be their top priority, to live, love and be happy.

Livelovebehappy · 29/10/2025 00:09

All the pontificating about hotels is irrelevant. What all this proves is that we just don’t have adequate housing. The problem will still be there when the asylum seekers are granted permission to stay. We have people here who have been on housing waiting lists for years. Living in cramped and squalid conditions. We can’t accommodate more people coming here. It’s that simple.

Livelovebehappy · 29/10/2025 00:03

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:15

Is diversity an issue for you?

That’s the point. There is no diversity because people who come to live here develop their own communities to exclude others. They have no interest in integrating. That’s not why they’re here. Do you think that that’s at the top of their priorities when they come here? That they want to mix and make friends with the lovely British people?

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:27

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 23:19

I was just hoping you will put your money where your mouth was.

If you aren't happy to, then that's up to you.

What does that even mean?

You already told me I should pay for asylum seekers because you don't want to.

WildLimePoet · 28/10/2025 23:23

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:15

Is diversity an issue for you?

Ooohhh, really think you did something there.

Let’s see. Is diversity an issue.

How many ‘naice’, well healed people on this thread actually choose to live in the diverse areas. How many second and third gen educated children and grandchildren of migrants even choose to live in these diverse areas. Why do they choose to leave?

Which aspects of diversity do you advocate for? FGM? Forced marriages? Honour based violence?

Netcurtainnelly · 28/10/2025 23:21

aslkdfjh · 28/10/2025 12:35

The hotels are not ‘cushy’ but currently the public appears to falling for the bullshit that asylum seekers are living it up in 4* hotels with all the trappings.

Edited

They are getting more than some people who were born here.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 23:19

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:13

You said I should house an asylum seeker and decided that I do have room in my house, you said I want to spend other people's money not my own but then you also claim I want to pay extra tax, called me lady Bountiful.

You are basically talking shite.

But do keep laughing at me for not treating asylum seekers as scape goats.

I was just hoping you will put your money where your mouth was.

If you aren't happy to, then that's up to you.

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:15

WildLimePoet · 28/10/2025 23:13

What is this magic button that is pressed when asylum is granted that means people start integrating?

Look around inner city neighbourhoods of the largest cities in the UK. How integrated do they look?

Is diversity an issue for you?

RaraRachael · 28/10/2025 23:14

WildLimePoet · 28/10/2025 23:11

People don’t arrive illegally because of the hotels. They come here because,

Once they’re here, they’re almost guaranteed to get to stay. They can make up any story, and they will get asylum.

They get free healthcare, and everything else including a fully funded lifestyle.

When they get asylum, they can bring their extend families over, multiple children, elderly relatives

The extended family gets everything given to them. Imagine a whole family that’s never contributed anything, now getting housing, free education free healthcare, benefits.

They can travel straight back to where the ‘fled’ from on holiday. It happens all the time.

The system is a joke. Closing hotels is tinkering around the edges. It’s like fiddling while Rome burns. It’s manipulating and taking the public for fools while the huge numbers coming in continues.

100%

Harriet9955 · 28/10/2025 23:14

StarlightRobot · 28/10/2025 12:44

Some of the hotels really are cushy! The one being used in my town was a really nice hotel before it was used to house migrants. It’s a beautiful building and right in the middle of town. It used to be considered ‘up market’.

Yes same in our town.

WildLimePoet · 28/10/2025 23:13

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:47

You are talking nonsense

The asylum system is broken because there is a long backlog in processing claims which is why people are stuck in hotels.

When people are in the process, they need housing and food, a basic human need the country should supply.

When asylum gets granted, people can start to intergrate,

When asylum doesn't get granted, people get deported.

If you want to shout at hotels or paint roundabouts, go ahead

If you have a problem with me treating asylum seekers as humans, well that says a lot about you.

What is this magic button that is pressed when asylum is granted that means people start integrating?

Look around inner city neighbourhoods of the largest cities in the UK. How integrated do they look?

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 23:13

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 23:04

I'm making my opinion about you based on what you have written.

You said I should house an asylum seeker and decided that I do have room in my house, you said I want to spend other people's money not my own but then you also claim I want to pay extra tax, called me lady Bountiful.

You are basically talking shite.

But do keep laughing at me for not treating asylum seekers as scape goats.

WildLimePoet · 28/10/2025 23:11

People don’t arrive illegally because of the hotels. They come here because,

Once they’re here, they’re almost guaranteed to get to stay. They can make up any story, and they will get asylum.

They get free healthcare, and everything else including a fully funded lifestyle.

When they get asylum, they can bring their extend families over, multiple children, elderly relatives

The extended family gets everything given to them. Imagine a whole family that’s never contributed anything, now getting housing, free education free healthcare, benefits.

They can travel straight back to where the ‘fled’ from on holiday. It happens all the time.

The system is a joke. Closing hotels is tinkering around the edges. It’s like fiddling while Rome burns. It’s manipulating and taking the public for fools while the huge numbers coming in continues.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 23:04

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:58

You are just making up stuff about me.

I'm making my opinion about you based on what you have written.

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:58

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 22:56

So many words, so little sense.

You keep using the same key words and you keep contradicting yourself while desperately trying to find a gotcha moment.

You are just making up stuff about me.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 22:56

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:47

You are talking nonsense

The asylum system is broken because there is a long backlog in processing claims which is why people are stuck in hotels.

When people are in the process, they need housing and food, a basic human need the country should supply.

When asylum gets granted, people can start to intergrate,

When asylum doesn't get granted, people get deported.

If you want to shout at hotels or paint roundabouts, go ahead

If you have a problem with me treating asylum seekers as humans, well that says a lot about you.

So many words, so little sense.

You keep using the same key words and you keep contradicting yourself while desperately trying to find a gotcha moment.

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:47

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 22:40

I thought you were supporting everyone on their asylum quest and were more that happy to pay additional tax and even to house them, if only you had the space.

If you are so happy with that, then are you saying it's broken?

You are talking nonsense

The asylum system is broken because there is a long backlog in processing claims which is why people are stuck in hotels.

When people are in the process, they need housing and food, a basic human need the country should supply.

When asylum gets granted, people can start to intergrate,

When asylum doesn't get granted, people get deported.

If you want to shout at hotels or paint roundabouts, go ahead

If you have a problem with me treating asylum seekers as humans, well that says a lot about you.

Almondflour · 28/10/2025 22:44

marshmallowmix · 28/10/2025 16:52

Yep agree ! They get tents in France we should follow their lead.

Macron told Starmer a few months ago stop with the benefits/hotels etc and you’ll stop the pull of them wanting to come to the U.K.

They leave safe counties like France as we are soft touch and hand out freebies to all and sundry.

Labour are sunk as people have had it, anyone I talk to has had a gutful….it is sickening and scary allowing unchecked males in on this scale.

I agree with this 100%.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 22:40

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 18:34

And there is me thinking we had a serious discussion.

Which party do you think can solve the broken asylum system and stop the boats?

I thought you were supporting everyone on their asylum quest and were more that happy to pay additional tax and even to house them, if only you had the space.

If you are so happy with that, then are you saying it's broken?

RaraRachael · 28/10/2025 22:32

Fundays12 · 28/10/2025 21:49

They plan to house 300 migrants in Inverness army barracks. The barracks are really close to one of the biggest secondary schools in the Highlands which is surrounded by trees. Its also within minutes walk of the city centre. Inverness already has a huge shortage of housing for local people, a shortage of doctors and dentists.

Locals are absolutely furious and the backlash has already started. Its not safe to house hundreds of unchecked migrants next to a school and Highland council have had no say in this decision. There are loads of uninhabited islands of Scotland they could host them in until settled status is given if applicable but instead the government have chosen to do this.

This is a shocking decision . Having seen groups of men standing around in groups leering- yes even at me, a grandmother in her 60s- in Glasgow, it breaks mg heart to think of Inverness ending up the same.

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 22:29

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 28/10/2025 22:23

No it’s the killing and rapes and hanging around in groups that’s the problem.

The majority of asylum seekers do not kill or rape.

Hanging out in groups applies to many people.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 28/10/2025 22:23

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 21:55

But do you agree the rhetoric around asylum seekers is problematic?

No it’s the killing and rapes and hanging around in groups that’s the problem.

38thparallel · 28/10/2025 22:19

It’s not illegal to seek asylum but they are not doing it via an approved route.

I asked this question upthread but didn’t get a reply so I’ll try again:
If it is legal to claim asylum what laws are those organising the dinghies crossing the channel breaking?
If the gangs are indeed illegal then how can Starmer smash them when they are operating in France?
Do any other countries with high levels of refugees also try to ‘smash the gangs’?