'We need to know more': Council awaiting further information about the latest ruling on asylum seekers

The Reform UK leader of Lancashire County Council says the authority is "awaiting further information" about the latest legal ruling on asylum hotels before taking any local action in response to it.

- 

Stephen Atkinson was speaking after Reform's national leader, Nigel Farage, quickly pledged that all of the local authorities under his party's control would “do everything in their power” to follow the lead of Tory-run Epping Forest District

Since the start of the use of The Metropole for this purpose, we've been clear that it is not a suitable location for asylum seekers

Council, which secured the closure of a facility in its patch after taking the matter to court.

However, the extent of that power is limited for county authorities in two-tier areas like Lancashire, where housing and planning are responsibilities that sit largely with borough councils such as Fylde and Wyre - otherwise known as the districts - and the standalone Blackpool Council, over whose patch the county council has no control.

That fact was acknowledged by County Coun Atkinson himself shortly after being elected to head the new ruling group at Lancashire County Council in May.