Ahead of May’s Holyrood election, Nigel Farage‘s party has pledged to “prioritise Scottish people on housing lists”, lobby the UK Government to remove Glasgow’s status as a ‘dispersal city’, and charge international students council tax.
Reform is projected to form the Scottish Parliament’s second largest party.
Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr said that recent figures, which show a rise in refugee homelessness applications, “speak for themselves”.
Glasgow Reform councillor Thomas Kerr. (Image: Newsquest)
He added: “When I grew up in Cranhill in Glasgow’s east end it was poverty-stricken, but it had a strong sense of community. Today, that sense of community has been lost and replaced by decisions made far away with little regard for local impact.
“Under SNP and Labour politicians, social cohesion has broken down, with Scottish families pushed down housing lists while the system is abused by illegal migrants. That is wrong and it must end.”
It was revealed last week that applications from households with refugee or leave to remain status rose by 51% in the first half of last year, up from 2,115 to 3,200.
They account for 16% of all homelessness applications nationally, while the number of applications from households across all other eligibility categories decreased.
Kerr went on to say: “A Reform Scottish Government would immediately close Nicola Sturgeon’s homeless loophole that has resulted in our country becoming a magnet for mass illegal immigration.
“We will also push to remove Glasgow’s dispersal status and ensure those housed here illegally are returned to Home Office detention centres.”
Once their asylum claims are settled, refugees have the right to access public funds and local authorities have a legal duty to provide homeless support.
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Refugees have the right to make a homeless application anywhere in Scotland.
These protections are stronger than those in other parts of the UK.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan previously said that the falling number of people assessed as homeless was encouraging.
“However, there is still much to do and we are determined to turn the tide and ensure everyone has the opportunity of a place to call home,” she added.
“The figures do speak to the severe pressure services are under due to the Home Office’s mismanagement of the asylum system, particularly in Glasgow. The UK Government must provide additional support for Glasgow City Council.
