Housing asylum seekers in poor areas has led to 'civil unrest', minister admits

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 00:46, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 00:46, 13 August 2026 Housing asylum seekers in poorer communities has created civil unrest, Labour's borders minister admitted on Wednesday. Anna Turley said putting migrants into cheaper housing has had a 'huge impact' on communities. But she insisted the burden must now be placed on more affluent areas as she doubled down on Andy Burnham's insistence they must 'play their part'. Ms Turley said there needed to be a 'fair and equitable system' for distributing asylum seekers.  And she defended plans for 1,200 migrants to be housed near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington, with a population of just 400. She told the BBC: 'What we've seen in the past is places like Blackpool, and other communities around the country where housing is perhaps cheaper and more plentiful, have had to take more than their fair share of asylum seekers. 'That's put a huge burden on local communities and created real civil unrest, so we want to make sure that we're managing the system much better in a more sustained way that's reducing the impact on local communities.' The Prime Minister said this week he will make sure arrivals are not only placed in the 'poorest communities'. Anna Turley said putting migrants into cheaper housing has had a 'huge impact' on communities A record breaking 230 people arrived on a small boat this week, which is more than the typical capacity of a Boeing 737 jet His comments sparked Tory warnings of a 'vindictive punishment beating to the UK's middle classes'. Under Home Office plans, a former military base in Bicester will provide accommodation for 1,250 male asylum seekers.  But the residents of Piddington have voted to stage a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK as part of their protests against the plans. Ms Turley said: 'This is about fairness. This is making sure that there is distribution around the country, and this is about a more fair and equitable system that limits the impact on local communities.' Asked about a potential influx of asylum seekers three times as large as Piddington's population, the Home Office minister said: 'Well, I suppose they're not going to be in the village. They're going to be contained in a former military base.' But pressed on whether asylum seekers would be free to leave the site, Ms Turley said: 'They will be allowed out, but everything they need will be on that site. So they will be managed. They will be contained.' She added: 'They're on a self-contained site. We are looking at former military bases around the country. We know where people are. We can manage the system.' Asked if she would be happy for a similar number of people to arrive in her Redcar constituency, Ms Turley said: 'We don't have a former military base... but the reality is it's about fairness.' Your browser does not support iframes. Asked about the Oxfordshire protests, Mr Burnham told GB News: 'I will listen to what people are saying and respond to the concerns that they are putting forward. 'I don't know the issue yet in detail, but in some ways, as I understand it, it is about creating secure space.' The PM added: 'It's obviously going to be challenging, but I am prepared always to listen to people, to work with people and to pick up legitimate concerns, and I will address those 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. I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part. 'We understand people's concerns and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington.' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Andy Burnham is planning to dish out another vindictive punishment beating to the UK's middle classes. 'Labour has hammered hard-working families with punitive tax increases galore, increased regulation and soaring energy bills. 'Now, Burnham plans to deliberately flood more neighbourhoods with thousands of illegal immigrants who he has let into this country, and many of whom will commit serious crimes including rape and murder.'