By Anger as Lia Nici refers to asylum seekers as illegal migrants
Last week saw the shock announcement that St James Hotel would be used to house asylum seekers before the plan was suddenly reversed.
Last Tuesday news broke that Corus, the firm which owns the hotel, had entered an ‘exclusive contract’ with the government to house asylum seekers after an influx arriving in the UK.
Hotel bookings and events were canceled last minute as the firm apologised for any inconvenience.
Grimsby MP Lia Nici told Gi Media that she contacted Home Secretary Priti Patel and lobbied for the plans to be reversed.
She said that St James Hotel was a “wholly inappropriate place” for asylum seekers to be put, especially as it is in a town center.
She added that despite the public backlash, it was her own decision to lobby for this decision: “We’re regenerating the town center and I don’t think it’s an appropriate place for asylum seekers, especially if they’re going to be illegal asylum seekers.
However, some have taken issue with Ms Nici’s continuous use of the term illegal migrants when the hotel would have house asylum seekers.
Ms Nici shared her actions on Twitter, writing: “Many people have contacted me about the use of St James Hotel for illegal migrants. I intervened as soon as I found out about the plans. Ministers agreed with me that it is an inappropriate location and have now withdrawn the plan. A good result for Grimsby.”
One person replied: ” Look North just reported that the St James scheme you kiboshed was for Asylum seekers, not “illegal migrants”. Are BBC Look North wrong, or are you?”
Another said: “Since when are human beings illegal? Your language is shocking, you should be ashamed.”
Another accused the MP of using ‘inflammatory language’: WDisappointedly inflammatory language’ from an MP. Surely ‘illegal’ migrants would have been handled by the home office through detention centre?”
Some have come to MS Nici’s support over her intervention despite the backlash.
One person stated: “Should be helping our own homeless and veterans before any other one you know the ones who put their lives on the line for the country who are now on the streets.”
“Disgusting doing this without a single thought for our own homeless,” another added.
