West Midlands councils take Home Office to court over asylum seeker help

Seven local authorities in the West Midlands are taking legal action against the Home Office through the High Court in Birmingham over what they're calling a 'failed' system to help asylum seekers.

In a statement provided to us on behalf of Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell MBC, Walsall MBC, City of Wolverhampton Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, they say; "We've been left with no alternative but to inform the Home Office of our collective decision to suspend our partnership in the voluntary asylum dispersal scheme for future asylum seekers. The Home Office has contested this decision and we have, as a result, taken legal action through the High Court in Birmingham to resolve this issue..."

The councils, which have supported the Government's asylum seeker dispersal scheme, say that a small proportion of 'mainly urban councils' in the UK are helping to re-house people in need, like recent Afghan refugees, but that other authorities 'in more affluent areas' aren't helping enough. They claim it's an issue which has been brought up again, and again. The national system is being called 'flawed', and that it needs fixing.

The statement continues and says: 'We believe that Government should immediately require, not simply request, every single Local Authority in the UK to make an offer to accommodate a proportionate share of those seeking asylum in our country or welcoming into their community those who have the right to remain in the UK, unless there are compelling reasons why this cannot happen.

The consequences of this not happening are placing even more demands on areas like ours that have disproportionately carried this burden - and that cannot continue.'

As a result, the six West Midlands councils have made the decision to suspend their partnership in the voluntary asylum dispersal scheme for future asylum seekers. The local authorities say they're committed to playing their rightful role in providing safe refuge, but the level must be 'proportionate and reasonable.'