Jamie WallerLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Reuters
Sir Keir Starmer said he “made a commitment” to RAF Scampton before the election
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he intends to keep his promise to not use RAF Scampton to house asylum seekers.
The government has committed to stop housing people seeking asylum in hotels, and look at “more appropriate sites” including former military sites.
In September, Luke Pollard, minister of state at the Ministry of Defence, said “every site” would be considered, including those “visited by the Home Office in the past”.
On Monday, Sir Keir said: “I made a commitment to Scampton before the election that it wouldn’t be used. I intend to honour that.”
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Sir Keir added: “More broadly, I want to bring down the cost of accommodation for asylum seekers, and close the hotels.
“We need to stop people wanting to come to the UK, process claims quicker and reduce accommodation needs.”
When asked whether other RAF bases in the area were under consideration, he said the government was working to reduce the demand from asylum seekers.
PA Media
Plans to use RAF Scampton to house hundreds of asylum seekers was scrapped by the government last year
In 2023, the then Conservative government announced it planned to use RAF Scampton, among other bases, to house asylum seekers.
However, the plan was scrapped by the Labour government last year.
In August, it was revealed the failed attempt to house asylum seekers on the RAF Scampton site had cost the Home Office at least £48m.
Preparations are now being made to put the site on the open market.
West Lindsey District Council is keen to buy the property, and claimed its regeneration plans would boost the local economy by £2bn over the next 15 years.