By Government plans to house asylum seekers in St James Hotel reversed
It has just today been confirmed that the government plans to house asylum seekers in St James Hotel in Grimsby have been reversed.
Yesterday, 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: “I think it [St James Hotel] is a wholly inappropriate place for asylum seekers to be put in a town center, in one building.”
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.
“I think it would create issues such as public order issues that we could do without in the town.”
Ms Nici went on to say that she got in touch with the Immigration Minister before escalating it to Home Secretary Priti Patel.
However, Ms Nici was not the only person against the plans, with many locals sharing their disapproval after the news broke yesterday morning.
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.
