Ewing urges UK Minister to come to Inverness and face the public over Cameron Barracks decision
Independent MSP for Inverness and Nairn Fergus Ewing has written to UK Immigration Minister Tom Norris MP, urging him to visit Inverness to meet with local residents, service providers and the media, and to answer key questions about the UK Government’s decision to house up to 300 asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks.
Mr Ewing raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament earlier today, pressing Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville for full transparency on communications between the Scottish and UK Governments. The Cabinet Secretary confirmed she had written twice to the Home Secretary on the matter and agreed, at Mr Ewing’s request, to publish both letters.
Speaking after the parliamentary exchange, Mr Ewing said:
“Today in the Scottish Parliament, I made it clear that Cameron Barracks is entirely the wrong location to house asylum seekers. Contrary to what the UK Government has claimed, the site is not ‘on the outskirts’ of Inverness. It is near the city centre, beside residential developments and schools. That is simply not an appropriate or sensible setting for this proposal.
"The announcement came as a huge shock to local people, almost all of whom have contacted me to condemn the choice of site as completely unsuitable. There has been no consultation whatsoever with Highland Council, local representatives or the community.
"Inverness should not be used as a convenient solution to UK Government failures in processing asylum applications. It is unacceptable that such a major decision, with clear implications for both local residents and those seeking asylum, has been imposed with no consultation or communication.
"It is important to recognise that this situation has arisen not because of those seeking asylum, but because of the UK Government’s longstanding failures on migration policy and its inability to process applications in a timely and effective manner. As a result, communities like Inverness are now being asked to shoulder the consequences of these failings, without consultation, planning or adequate support for local services.
"As the elected representative for Inverness and Nairn, I see it as my duty to stand up for the people I represent and to insist that, at the very least, our community is afforded proper notice, transparency and consultation about decisions that directly affect them.
"This morning I met with Home Office officials who admitted the barracks are currently cold and unfit for human occupation, though they claim they could be ready within weeks — a claim I find hard to believe without proof.
"I have now urged Minister Tom Norris to come to Inverness in the coming days, to face the public and press, and to explain why this decision has been imposed without any engagement or transparency. If a city-centre site is truly so suitable, then perhaps the UK Government should first look at Central London, near Westminster, before using Inverness as a convenient solution to their own policy failures.
"I will continue to work on this matter for my constituents and will keep pressing for truth, transparency and answers from the UK Government — and for recognition that Cameron Barracks is an entirely unsuitable site, lacking the local provisions and essential services needed to sustain such a decision responsibly or safely.”
Mr Ewing said he would make public the correspondence between the Scottish and UK Governments once his office obtains the letters referenced by the Cabinet Secretary.
He added that while a judicial review may be a last resort, he hopes “common sense will prevail” before matters reach that point.