Protests in Waterlooville against new homes for asylum seekers

About 1,000 anti-immigration protesters have demonstrated against plans to provide accommodation for couples and parents seeking asylum.

It came after former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman labelled Home Office proposals to house 35 people in flats above shops in Waterlooville “utterly inappropriate”.

Havant Borough Council’s leader, Labour’s Phil Munday, accused the MP for Fareham and Waterlooville of seeking to “exacerbate fear”.

A Home Office consultation ends on Friday, after which it will decide whether to approve the proposed accommodation.

In a letter to current Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Braverman wrote such facilities made town centres “no-go zones for the patriotic, common-sense majority”.

In a statement on Tuesday, the council said it would “do its utmost to reflect the view of residents” when submitting its response to the Home Office.

It said, following discussions with the Home Office, it had been told the accommodation was “best suited for the use of couples, or single parents with young children”.

Crowds of people carrying flags and placards gathered in the Hampshire town on Wednesday afternoon.

Protester Nicola Lattimer said: “We’ve had enough of the government, they just are not listening to anybody.”

Sue Johnston said it had been an “excellent protest” adding: “I would really like Keir Starmer to explain to us what the end game is for all these immigrants he’s letting in?”

She added that she was worried about increased pressure on the NHS and migrants getting priority with local services.

“They haven’t paid nothing into the country so why should they?” she said.

Another woman who did not want to be named said: “It’s about time our government helped our people.”

In a social media post after the protest, Braverman said: “Very proud of the people of Waterlooville tonight.”

Phil Munday said: “I am yet again concerned with [Braverman’s] repeated use of inaccurate language in her supporting letter which only seeks to exacerbate fear in the hearts and minds of our concerned residents.

“Repeated reference to illegal immigrants and unwanted men flames fears when we know as a matter of fact all users of the proposed accommodation are supported asylum seekers.”

In a second letter to the Home Secretary last week, Braverman said the proposal would “drastically undermine the fabric and community” of the town.

“Even if the occupants are predominantly women and children, this will place a significant burden on local resources.”

The council said it had not initially been consulted on the plans after Clearsprings, a procurement company employed by the Home Office for the project, had used an “incorrect email address”.

It was subsequently granted a 10-day consultation period on the proposals.

Braverman was sacked as home secretary in November 2023 after she defied then prime minister Rishi Sunak over an article accusing the Metropolitan Police of bias in the policing of protests.