Anti-migrant activists ‘stop paying council tax’ | UK | News
Anti-immigrant protesters in Crowborough, East Sussex, were called on to stop paying council tax if asylum seekers were housed in a local military barracks; This led to anger and fear of tension in society.
Angry campaigners marched through the town’s streets on Sunday carrying banners and flags; many were wearing plain white T-shirts and chanting “Send them home.”
The protest, supported by campaign group Crowborough Shield, was the second of three organized by angry residents who strongly opposed plans to temporarily house 600 male refugees at Crowborough Training Camp.
The site, which has been offered to the Home Office by the Ministry of Defense for a 12-month period, is one of two barracks that will be temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, alongside Cameron Barracks in Inverness, as part of the Government’s contentious attempt to close asylum hotels.
Activist’s shocking council tax boycott call
Activist Sarah White, 40, who was arrested earlier this year after climbing the steps of the town hall to unfurl the Union flag following an impassioned speech at the Bell Hotel in Epping, west Essex, has made a jaw-dropping call for a council tax boycott. The charges against him were later dropped.
Wearing a T-shirt with the words “Stand your ground” written on the back, Ms White told the crowd: “I’ve stopped paying my council tax. I’d encourage everyone to stop paying their council tax.”
Insisting that protests outside the Bell Hotel had failed to stop “undocumented, illegal men being housed at the Bell Hotel” or “crimes being committed in our community”, he claimed that tough action was necessary because “councillors and police don’t care”.
Government defends asylum plans under security guarantees
The government said its plans would include mandatory security and criminality checks using biometric data on all asylum seekers and that the site would have 24/7 security.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “A planned peaceful protest took place in Crowborough on Sunday morning. Officers worked to keep any disruption to the area to a minimum while the incident took place. No arrests were made.”
Labor has vowed to close all asylum hotels by the next election, but party leader Sir Keir Starmer is understood to be privately urging ministers to take action much sooner to tackle the urgent issue.
As tensions continue to rise in Crowborough and the fight over separatist refugee barracks shows no sign of abating, the Government faces increasing pressure to address the concerns of local residents and find a solution that balances the needs of asylum seekers with the safety and wellbeing of the community.
