Labour 'burying true cost of migrant accommodation'

LABOUR has been accused of trying to "bury the truth" about the true cost of asylum accommodation by refusing to say how nearly £122million has been allocated to councils.

- By David Williamson

Conservatives have warned Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that "secrecy is unacceptable" when council budgets are "buckling" and taxpayers face higher bills. In a letter to her, Shadow Communities minister David Simmonds said: "This lack of transparency is deeply concerning. Local authorities are facing acute financial pressures as a direct result of asylum accommodation costs, while illegal migration across the Channel continues to get to record levels due to the Government's failure to tackle illegal migration.