PM confirms Catterick won't be used for "large asylum site"
Rishi Sunak says the base will house refugees from Afghanistan
Last updated 22nd Dec 2023
The Prime Minister's confirmed Catterick Garrison won't be used as a major site to house asylum seekers.
Rishi Sunak said his intention is to use a military base in his constituency to house refugees from Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister said it was "not right" to suggest his constituency was different from any other constituency when asked why plans for the Catterick Garrison in Richmond had reportedly been scrapped.
On a visit to the headquarters of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, he told broadcasters: "That's not right. So the MoD and the Home Office have been conducting site inspections of various alternatives.
"They've concluded that Catterick isn't right for a large asylum site, but the intention is to use it to house refugees from Afghanistan where we obviously have commitments after our withdrawal from that a couple of years ago.
"But more generally taking a step back, stopping the boats is a massive priority of mine. It's something I said I wanted to do because that's ultimately the best way to relieve pressure on hotels and other areas and local communities."
He said the numbers this year are down by a third and he is determined to "finish the job" and get the grounded £290 million Rwanda scheme running.