POLL: Should Angela Rayner be sacked over asylum accommodation scandal?

Detailed summary

The Housing Secretary has given the go-ahead to a massive centre for asylum seekers next to an Oxfordshire village ...

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has provoked fury by granting planning permission to convert a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers. Villagers, who previously held a symbolic vote to declare independence from the UK in protest at the plans, have vowed to use every legal means to block the scheme.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “This is a betrayal of the women of Piddington, but emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner’s disregard for the law and women and girls’ safety.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Andy Burnham is determined to flood towns and villages across the country with fighting-age male illegal migrants. Burnham and his Government are putting women and girls at risk.” The Home Office is behind the plan, and is delighted with Ms Rayner’s decision. But what do you think? Have your say in our poll below.

Parish council chairman Tim McNally said there would be “many actions” by villagers, and that ministers should “absolutely” be braced for a legal challenge. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the village could also apply the new Hillsborough Law.

Once passed, the law would create a legally enforceable duty of candour that compels public officials and authorities to act transparently during investigations and inquiries. Mr McNally told the programme: “Last night, Andy Burnham was on a podium talking about the violence, sexual violence towards women, and bringing it upon the media industry as their responsibility to manage.

“But the reality is, is that this is exactly what the Government is doing to us here.” Asked how the village would respond, he said: “There’s going to be many actions, you will see. We will disclose that as we move forward.

“Today is a day of reflection, and we’ll work out where we plan to go from this point. But I will say, the Hillsborough Law is there for a reason, and we’re going to apply it.”

Asked if ministers should be braced…

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