Labour Pledges to Halt Asylum Centre Plan for RAF Scampton
In a new twist, the Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, has pledged to end the use of the RAF Scampton base as an asylum seeker camp by the Home Office. He instead desires to return the base for use according to a proposed £300 million redevelopment project, rather than a migrant processing facility currently planned to house 2000 men.
These plans have cast uncertainty over the proposed enterprise, heritage and tourism project that could boost Lincolnshire’s innovation presence and preserve the historic base's significance.
"Today’s statement from Keir Starmer gives us the welcome political certainty that we need to secure £300 million of private investment for Lincoln and Lincolnshire should Labour win the next general election. Keir’s words today mean that under a Labour government, we would be able to deliver that investment and thousands of jobs to the greater Lincoln area," stated Peter Hewitt, Chairman of Scampton Holdings Ltd.
While the Home Office has insisted that the base will be returned following its tenure as an asylum centre, fears grow over potential investors reconsidering their plans.
Conservatives Contest Labour's Plan
The new commitment by Labour to halt the transformation plans has been disagreed upon by Lincolnshire's Conservative MPs. They believe such an approach 'won't work.' And Sir Edward Leigh, Gainsborough MP and vocal opponent of the government's plans for RAF Scampton, said the Labour party won't persuade the EU to accept returns and mitigate the issue.
Lincoln Conservative MP Karl McCartney has also dismissed Labour’s pledge as unrealistic, stating that the party has "no workable plans on illegal immigration, false asylum claims, and dealing with the volumes of people trying to come to this country."
Local Support Shines
In response to Labour's pledge, Scampton Conservative councillor Roger Patterson, surprisingly echoed in favour, calling the decision 'brilliant.' Lincoln's Labour candidate Hamish Falconer also emphasized the importance of the commitments, stating that locally, they could "save the local plan for Scampton." and encouraged the conservatives to reconsider their plans.
However, the final decision hinges on the outcome of the next general elections, expected to be held in January 2025.