As well as Liberal Democrats, Labour, Green, and other independent councillors criticising the motion for allegedly scapegoating asylum seekers, refugees also gave their side of the story at a recent council meeting.
Sajjad Jabarkhel, a refugee from Afghanistan, spoke out against the motion during the public question section of the meeting.
“While the motion rightly acknowledges the pressure on our housing, it frames refugees and asylum seekers, particularly Afghans, as a primary cause of this strain,” he said. “This is both misleading and unfair.”
“Rather than framing refugees as a strain, why not prepare a motion to develop a strategy that trains newcomers, ensuring they are set up for success and can support themselves while contributing to the public sector – just as I have?”
Somerset had “a proud history of welcoming those in need” and he said that the “growing national rhetoric” against refugees and asylum seekers was “both concerning and disheartening.”
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The motion was put forward by Councillor Lucy Trimnell (Wincanton and Bruton) and seconded by Conservative group leader Councillor Diogo Rodrigues (Bridgwater East and Bawdrip).
Bridgwater and Burnham MP, Sir Ashley Fox, has also been pressing the government to alleviate the housing shortage in his constituency and in the county.
The motion read: “This council recognises the severe and growing pressures on social housing and the private rental sector in Somerset.
“We also acknowledge that Somerset is playing a role in national resettlement and asylum schemes, with government targets placing additional housing pressures on the county.
“For example, Somerset has been allocated 826 asylum accommodation bed-spaces – the third highest target in the south west – while also planning for arrivals under the Afghan resettlement programme.”
Bridgwater’s Cllr Rodrigues said the Liberal Democrats were the ones “stoking division.”
“Right now, 12,000 Somerset people are on the affordable housing register, waiting for a home of their own – that’s real lives, real families,” he said.
“Based on current availability, it would take eight years to house everyone needing a one-bedroom property in Somerset.”
Somerset Council received £3.5m from a government fund in January 2024 to purchase 31 properties for refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Once the refugees have been processed (and either deported or given the leave to remain), these properties revert back to the council and can be let out to local people as regular council houses.
As of December 2024 (the most recent figures available), refugees and asylum seekers made up only 0.038 per cent of Somerset’s population.