Weekly Bangla Mirror | Bangla Mirror, Bangladeshi news in UK, bangla mirror news
Thousands of people have marched through an East Sussex market town to protest against UK government plans to house asylum seekers on a former military site.
Crowds of men, women and children walked to Crowborough from the base, where the Home Office plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers as part of plans to end the use of hotels for the same purpose.
While those taking part included many people from the town and surrounding area, far-right activists and groups from other parts of England also sought to make their presence felt, in the latest and largest demonstration of its kind in the area.
The plans have attracted strong opposition in the town after the first asylum seekers were moved in last week, in what is a test case for emerging government policy.
Crowborough Shield, which describes itself as a non-political, voluntary residents’ group, is spearheading a legal case against the plans and took part in the march. It has accused the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, of “threatening” the town and other sites around the country with asylum housing plans.
Amid a sea of union jacks and Saint George’s flags, those who had journeyed in for the march from another part of Sussex included Lynn Hall, who described herself as an “ordinary concerned mother of two”.
“I feel really emotional about this because this was a site that was used by young cadets and now it is they who have been displaced,” she told the Guardian. “People have real concerns here about this and it’s about the unaccompanied young men who will be living here. I’m not hardline, I’m not political and I don’t want to be against anybody but I feel strongly.”
Like others in the crowd, Hall was carrying a flag emblazoned with the logo of Advance UK, a hard-right political party set up by the former MEP Ben Habib after splitting from Reform UK and which has drawn support from the far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson. Hall was surprised to be told this, adding that she was unaware of the group’s background.
Earlier, those who took turns to stand behind a “Crowborough says no” banner during the march on Sunday morning was Callum Barker, a former activist with the far-right Homeland party, who was an organiser of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Essex during the summer.
Also present were activists from the Operation Raise the Colours movement, including some who were banned last week by French authorities over plans to engage in activities on the French coast.
The march snaked its way in from the former military base, past the home of Helen and John Tate, a lawyer, former senior civil servant in the Home Office and deputy parliamentary ombudsman. “As far as the Home Office is concerned we have no say in the matter. The local MP [Nusrat Ghani] has tried to do her best by organising meetings, but it has gone ahead,” he said.
But for a bad knee, his wife said, she would have joined the march. “I think it’s a good thing as it really does show the extent of local opposition,” she said, although both she and her husband were concerned that the presence of far-right activists could “aggravate” the situation.
About 27 men have been housed at the camp so far. Crowborough is one of two military sites the government announced last year it would use to house asylum seekers, along with Cameron Barracks in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
Those taking part in the march followed behind a banner, preceded by a car blaring techno, bearing a crucifix and emblazoned with rightwing slogans as well as images of three young girls murdered in Southport. The crowd took part in chants of “Keir Starmer is a wanker” and in some cases “Keir Starmer is a traitor”.
No arrests had yet taken place on Sunday, according to Sussex police. Ch Supt James Collis said: “We know that the use of the Crowborough training camp for asylum accommodation has caused concern within the community. Our police presence has been increased in Crowborough and the surrounding area to provide a clear point of contact for the public for engagement and reassurance.”
Three people were arrested on Saturday after disorder outside Crowborough camp. A 36-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman from Crowborough and a 54-year-old man from Newhaven were detained on suspicion of an offence under the Public Order Act.
On a visit to Crowborough on Thursday, the home secretary vowed to defend any legal challenge “vigorously” amid news that the local authority, Wealden district council, was also considering action. Mahmood told broadcasters: “I understand the strength of feeling but I do also believe that getting out of asylum hotels is absolutely crucial for the country.”
