Labour mayors 'will have more power to house asylum seekers' claim Tory MPs

SIR Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham will be able to override local communities and take over social housing for thousands of asylum seekers under Labour plans, the Tories claim.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES

The Home Office is giving “strategic authorities” a role in “both providing and allocating asylum accommodation” — meaning the mayors of London and Greater Manchester “will be able to decide where asylum seekers are sent,” the Opposition say.

It comes as Shabana Mahmood’s department scrambles to find more than 12,000 homes in the capital for asylum seekers.

Whitehall sources rejected the claims, insisting “strategic authorities” have “always” contributed to discussions about such accommodation.

But the Tories believe their role is being expanded to making decisions, including the use of council and housing association homes.

Shadow Housing Minister David Simmonds said: “Londoners are already paying the price for Labour’s housing collapse. Slashed targets, record-low construction, and total inaction from City Hall.