We have inherited a broken system from the previous Conservative administration and are working with the Government to fix it. Numbers of Asylum seekers in Swindon hotels have fallen consistently under Labour, and we are down from a high of over five hundred to well under a hundred in one hotel now. Labour are determined to end the use of Asylum Hotels by the end of this Parliament, and on target to deliver that. We will continue to collaborate with great partners like the Harbour Project to ensure that Asylum Seekers are supported and helped to assimilate into Swindon society to maintain the long history Swindon has had since the time of Brunel to welcome newcomers into the town to support the development and growth. Refugees are welcome here and will help us to deliver the next big growth in the town, helping back to the fastest-growing town status we used to enjoy.
Jan Update – We are continuing to work with Swindon City of Sanctuary and are close to gaining the accreditation. Numbers in town centre hotels are continuing to fall and we are currently less than 60.