Andrew Vine

Andrew Vine argues that placing around 1,200 asylum seekers at the former RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse would unfairly burden a small rural community that already accommodates a disproportionate share of migrants. He accuses Andy Burnham and the Labour government of using the proposal for class politics and electoral advantage, noting opposition from David Skaith and Rachael Maskell. The column also criticizes the government’s failure to reduce Channel crossings and warns that the controversy could make immigration a major political problem for Keir Starmer.