Two Nottinghamshire Conservative MPs have vowed not to be "silenced" and continue naming hotels hosting asylum seekers. Ashfield MP Lee Anderson and Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith made the comments after the Refugee Council wrote to the Commons Speaker urging him to ask MPs not to identify hotels to protect those staying there after last month's firebombing of an immigration processing centre in Kent.
The charity's chief executive Enver Soloman said the attack, which police have said was motivated by extreme right-wing terrorist ideology, highlighted how asylum seekers were vulnerable to violent attacks by extremists. "It has been Home Office practice to not publicly name hotels where people are staying in order to guard their safety and privacy, but we know that increasingly MPs are naming specific premises when they raise this issue," he wrote.
The two Nottinghamshire MPs have joined a number group of Tory politicians vowing not to be "silenced", and to continue to name individual hotels. Mr Anderson, posting on his Facebook page, said: "No Silence Here. As reported in The Guardian, far left groups and the Refugee Council are trying to stop MPs from naming and shaming hotels who are receiving huge amounts of taxpayer cash to take in ‘asylum seekers’.
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"Like many of you, I am sick and tired of seeing our hospitality abused and people who are simply economic migrants cheating our system via small boats and dodgy human rights legislation. I will not be silenced and will name and shame these greedy hotel owners."
The MP then named a Mansfield hotel which he claimed was hosting asylum seekers. Bassetlaw's MP shared a similar message criticising the charity's efforts.
Mr Clarke-Smith said on his Facebook page: "As reported in The Guardian, far left groups and the Refugee Council are trying to stop MPs from naming and shaming hotels who are receiving huge amounts of taxpayer cash to take in ‘asylum seekers’.
"I have, and always will be, welcoming to those in genuine need and we can be proud of what this country has done for those genuinely seeking refuge over the years. However, like many of you, I am sick and tired of seeing our hospitality abused and people who are simply economic migrants cheating our system via small boats and dodgy human rights legislation.
"I do not want these people in Bassetlaw and I will NAME AND SHAME anywhere that facilitates this. I will not be silenced and will use the privileges given to me as a Member of Parliament to continue to speak out on this issue."
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