'Racism' exchange in council chamber during asylum seeker debate

AN argument over “racism” took place at a council meeting following questions from Conservative members about asylum seekers.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

Two Conservative councillors posed questions to the Labour leaders of Stockton Council at a full council meeting.

Conservative group leader Cllr Tony Riordan asked how many asylum seekers were housed in the borough currently and in the last six years, what government grant was paid to the council and what the council contributed to supporting asylum seekers over the last six years.

Cllr Norma Stephenson, cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, replied: “I need to remind members that the provision of support to asylum seekers is a statutory duty established by the previous government when they introduced the national dispersal scheme in 2022.

“The number of asylum seekers in Stockton has remained pretty static over the last few years and represents approximately 0.55% of the population. The cost of supporting and resettling asylum seekers is entirely covered by government grant. Data is not held before 2022, when the national dispersal scheme came into being, and there are government restrictions that don't allow us to share any release on gender, or the location of asylum seekers.

“I can give you the costs of the grant that we've received for asylum seekers - 2022-3 was £229,000, 2023-4 was £671,500, 2024-5 was £1,702,870, and 2025-6, because this is based on the figures as at March every year, is £960,200.”

Cllr Riordan said: “The fourfold increase in the grant would indicate a rise rather than static numbers.”