Statement- Selaine Saxby MP for North Devon
“I am very pleased to learn that the Dilkhusa Hotel in Ilfracombe is no longer to be used as an Asylum Contingency site. It will return to being used as a hotel in July after some maintenance work.
In December 2022 the Prime Minister assured me and the country that the government would be moving asylum seekers out of hotels and into more appropriate and cost-effective venues like disused military bases as soon as possible.
We should be proud of Ilfracombe, North Devon Council, the local medical community, the schools, the community groups and the Pickwell Foundation who have embraced and taken care of our temporary guests. I visited the Dilkhusa and met with some of the residents there and heard some of the harrowing stories and situations that many had fled.
We have a duty to protect and help people when they are here, but also a duty to curb illegal immigration and stop the criminal empire of people smuggling through crossing the channel in small boats. Our International Aid budget should be used for helping other countries, supporting the people in need so that they can support and build up their own countries, not paying companies to house them in hospitality venues or where local people are already in need of affordable housing.
I supported amendments in the legislation to ensure there are safe and legal routes for refugees. But we must stop the boats and the criminal gangs enabling illegal immigration. And when we do, despite the opposition benches who have no plan to tackle immigration, we will continue to be the charitable international neighbour that the United Kingdom has always been.”
