Reform council makes history by axing government refugee scheme | UK | News
Reform England is set to make history by withdrawing a council it controls from the government’s refugee resettlement scheme, declaring the move will ensure British people are no longer pushed to the back of the queue.
Lancashire County Council, which has been controlled by Nigel Farage’s rebel party since last May when Reform won a majority of 53 out of 84 seats, has moved to exit the UK Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Resettlement Scheme, although provisions for Ukrainian refugees remain.
The program was launched by the Conservative government in 2021 to provide newly arrived legal refugees with access to homes, medical care, education and job support. He argues that the reform forces the council to prioritize newcomers over those who have lived in the area for years.
The party says public money is being spent on cash payments on arrival, culturally specific gift baskets, energy bill help and registering with doctors and securing benefits, while homeless veterans and other vulnerable local people are largely left without equivalent support.
Why is Reform withdrawing from the refugee program?
According to the Daily Mail, Reform’s Home Affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, said: “These plans have only served to prioritize new arrivals and foreign nationals over the British public.
“UK Reform in Lancashire puts an end to shameful Tory policy that pushes British people to the back of the queue for housing and council services.”
Joshua Roberts, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said the move was about “fairness” and putting local Lancastrians “at the front of the queue”.
He added: “We call on the Labor Government to stop resettling refugees in Lancashire and instead direct public funds to better support our vulnerable residents and veterans.
“These people have been denied priorities for too long by successive Labor and Conservative governments.”
What will happen after the Lancashire refugee decision?
The plan is expected to be presented to the Council Cabinet for approval this summer. Reform sources say other councils under the party’s control are lining up to follow suit.
Mr Yusuf added that on local election day, May 7, “Reform UK is the only force that will ensure that councils across England put the British people first.”
