EXCLUSIVE: The claim is contained in a paper by Glasgow’s Integration Joint Board, which leads on homelessness services.
Police officers form a barrier in front of counter-protesters separating them from the Stand Up to Racism rally(Image: PA)
Council and health bosses have claimed the angry protests outside asylum seeker hotels in England are forcing refugees to flee to Glasgow.
A homeless services body claimed “significant hostile behaviour” south of the border could be fuelling the demand to come to the city.
Glasgow council is facing a £66m budget black hole over a refugee homelessness crisis.
Council chiefs believe the UK Government policy of cutting the time asylum seekers spend in hotels is leading to a huge number of refugees seeking temporary accommodation.
Scotland’s liberal housing laws, such as allowing refugees from England to declare themselves homeless in Scotland, have also been blamed.
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In a January paper by Glasgow’s Integration Joint Board, which leads on homelessness services, they addressed the issue of refugees granted leave to remain in the UK who apply for homeless assistance in the city:
“More progressive homelessness legislation in Scotland (which has no ‘priority need’ test and a legal right to housing for all unintentionally homeless households) is seen as a key driver for this increased demand.
“Furthermore, some cities in England have also recently witnessed significant hostile behaviour towards asylum seekers and refugees, culminating in protests and the targeting of hotels accommodating them.
“This also appears to be a factor which is driving demand towards Glasgow.”
Protests outside the asylum seeker hotels in England have grown since Labour swept to power last year.
Critics say the protests have been organised by the far right, but local people concerned about the hotel policy have also attended.
The paper was published before protests took place in Falkirk, Aberdeen and Perth.
(Image: DAILY RECORD)
Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken said: “Much of the pressure on Glasgow and other cities has absolutely been driven by the current and previous UK Governments’ focus on hurriedly reducing the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers – at the expense of every other part of the system.
“It would be extremely naive not to understand that national policy has been, at least in part, a response to the antipathy and protest that have been apparent in some communities – often driven itself by disinformation and hateful scaremongering.
“More broadly, Glasgow has an enviable record on integration – so it maybe would not be a surprise that new refugees feel it is a place where they can find support, community and respect.“
Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “Scotland has long prided itself in welcoming asylum seekers, refugees and migrant communities, even coining the term ‘New Scots’ to show how welcome anyone is to call our country their home.
“We are not immune to what we are seeing happen in England. These anti-migrant protests have seen overt racist and far right politics, and are an affront to our reputation as a welcoming nation. They should have no place in a modern Scotland.
“The Home Office has spent more time demonising vulnerable people than giving them the support they need and deserve.
“The UK Government must provide the resources that are needed to meet the needs of refugees themselves, and the communities that welcome them. Glasgow in particular needs to be fully funded to make life better for those who need our help to rebuild their lives.
“People feeling war and persecution deserve the right to live in safe, stable accommodation, just as everyone does. They also deserve the opportunity to work freely instead of being stuck in a long cycle, in a hostile system that is designed to humiliate them.”
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