Row erupts over 'hypocrisy' as Portsmouth council asks Home Office to re-house asylum-seeking children

'A SAD day for this council' - calls were made to prioritise the safety of asylum-seeking children entering Portsmouth as a political row erupted.
Pictured ; GV of the Portsmouth International Port. 

Picture: Habibur RahmanPictured ; GV of the Portsmouth International Port. 

Picture: Habibur Rahman
Pictured ; GV of the Portsmouth International Port. Picture: Habibur Rahman

As reported, Portsmouth City Council had to ask the Home Office to relocate a number unaccompanied asylum-seeking children coming into the city to other authorities due to a spike in arrivals that led to a shortage local foster homes.

It was revealed 22 children arrived at the port in six weeks between August 18 and September 22, leaving the council with 96 children to look after - around a fifth of all children in the council’s care.

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But since refusing to take new arrivals from October 1, around 35 children have been transferred from Portsmouth’s existing caseload.

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More than 20 asylum-seeking children arrive at Portsmouth port in six weeks

Speaking at a virtual full council meeting today (Nov 10), Councillor Suzy Horton - the council's education boss - said: 'Paradoxically the best way we can care for them is to say we can't care for them until our numbers are reduced.'

However, during the debate councillors became embroiled in a row over hypocrisy as Tory members claimed they were met with accusations of 'racism' and 'xenophobia' in 2015 when a report on asylum-seeking children was brought to a meeting.

Party leader, Cllr Donna Jones, described language used by the Lib Dems five years ago as 'abhorrent.' She said: 'Sadly in 2015 I tried to do the same - the Lib Dems have written an almost identical letter.

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'The main difference, however, was when I brought the issues to full council the leader of the council and members embarked on a hate campaign.'

The 2015 motion proposed by Tory Cllr Luke Stubbs asked 'the chief executive to write to the Home Secretary requesting that Portsmouth be removed from the list of cluster areas.'

Progressive Portsmouth People member, Cllr Jeanette Smith, commented: 'This is a really sad day for this council. We are talking about unaccompanied children in extremely difficult circumstances where they have travelled thousands of miles.

'All the Tory councillors can say is "it's hurt our egos."'

Council leader, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said that the number of asylum-seeking children in Portsmouth in October 2015 was 17.

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Under government guidelines the maximum number Portsmouth council should look after is 31.

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