Was the ‘benefits for asylum seekers’ story just a lie?

The government is extending the time people granted asylum in the UK can stay in government accommodation after research showed a significant rise in refugee homelessness so was the ‘benefits for asylum seekers’ story just a lie?

You must have heard the spiel – that people coming to the UK from foreign countries – fleeing war or persecution there – were being given homes, benefits, wide-screen TVs, mobile homes, the kitchen sink, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

Apparently that’s a load of Uncle Tom cobblers, as you can tell from the BBC report:

Government letters seen by the BBC reveal the grace period given to refugees to transition from supported housing to their own accommodation will be increased from 28 to 56 days from 9 December.

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The change is described by the Home Office as “an interim measure” expected to be in place until June 2025, when it will be reassessed.

Officials said in the letters the move was designed to support local authorities after research suggested a significant rise in refugee homelessness over the past year.

In October 2022, Home Office officials said the daily bill for housing asylum seekers in hotels was £5.6m a day.

So – yes, a lot of money has been spent on housing refugees, but we should remember that the UK has a duty to shelter these people if their application for asylum is accepted.

And no – it seems clear that stories about them being given all kinds of gifts, funded by the public purse, are only stories. Otherwise there would be no refugee homelessness at all.

I’m glad that is cleared up but I would also hope that the extra time is enough to get these people into a position where they can stand on their own two feet and support themselves, while they are here.


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