Green Party councillor has grandchildren write Valentine’s Day cards for asylum seekers
A Green Party councillor says she and her grandchildren have made Valentine’s cards for asylum seekers staying at a controversial migrant camp. Councillor Anne Cross, from East Sussex County Council, said she plans to give the cards to men at the Crowborough site over the weekend.
Migrants last month began moving into accommodation on the military camp where the Home Office plans to house up to 500 men as it aims to end the use of asylum hotels. The move has sparked opposition from locals in the area, with hundreds taking part in a large-scale protest through the town in response. Cllr Cross made her comments about the cards during a recent council meeting.
The Home Office plans to house up to 500 male asylum seekers at the Crowborough training camp (Image: Getty)
“My grandchildren and I painted some cards – Valentine’s Cards – at the weekend which we are going to be presenting to the men in the camp in Crowborough as a welcome,” she said, as first reported by Guido Fawkes.
Local Conservative MP and Deputy Speaker of the Commons Nusrat Ghani said the remarks were “disturbing”.
She said on X: “How is it that Wealden councillors don’t have time or courage to meet with MPs or community over the asylum seekers in Crowborough, but have time to get kids to make Valentine’s cards and deliver to single adult men – strangers.
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“It’s just disturbing, highly irresponsible and with no regard for safeguarding.
“This is NOT a good idea.”
Around 27 men moved into the accommodation at Crowborough army camp in late January.
It is one of two military sites the Government announced last year that it would use to house asylum seekers, along with Cameron Barracks in Inverness in the Highlands.
The local authority Wealden District Council previously said it was considering legal action against the move to use the camp to house migrants.
During a visit to the site, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed to defend any legal challenge “vigorously”.
The Crowborough accommodation has 24/7 security with CCTV and strict sign-in processes for residents, the Home Office said.
They will also have completed health and police checks before arriving at the base.
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Valentine’s Day, the annual celebration of love and romance, is on Saturday.
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