Elon Musk has mocked Sir Keir Starmer after it was revealed that new-build homes are being allocated for migrant accommodation in a village where many locals are struggling to afford homes themselves.
The move to utilize four £300,000 three-bedroom houses in Suffolk for migrants has sparked outrage, especially as Labour claims to be taking a strong stance on immigration.
Musk expressed his disapproval on X by sharing a link to the Mail’s article about the situation, adding the comment: ‘This must stop now.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address MPs today regarding Labour’s immigration policy as the government attempts to manage rising tension over Channel crossings and asylum hotels.
Cabinet colleague Bridget Phillipson intensified the debate yesterday by justifying the use of government lawyers to keep an asylum hotel open in Epping, arguing that the rights of newcomers outweighed those of local residents.
Despite a record number of crossings from France this year, Ms. Cooper will claim this afternoon that Labour’s plans are proving effective. She will commit to advancing a reform in the asylum appeals process, which currently takes about a year on average.
A new panel will prioritise cases involving foreign criminals and migrants living in hotels, with the aim of halving times to less than 24 weeks.
She is also expected to make it harder for refuges to bring family members to this country unless they meet basic standards like speaking English.
Asylum seekers are being housed in £300,000 three-bedroom contemporary townhouses (pictured) in a village in Suffolk – to the fury of local residents
According to promotional materials, the homes are ‘nestled in the tranquil and sought-after village’ and ‘designed for modern living and comfort, providing ample space and eco-friendly amenities’
Elon Musk has now taken to X to share his view on the scandal by posting above a link to the Mail’s coverage: ‘This must stop now’
The Tesla has repeatedly criticised the Labour government’s immigration policies
The conjoined properties are furnished with en-suite bathrooms, sleek kitchens and state-of-the-art amenities including underfloor heating and electric vehicle charging points.
According to promotional materials, the homes are ‘nestled in the tranquil and sought-after village’ and ‘designed for modern living and comfort, providing ample space and eco-friendly amenities’.
Representing ‘a perfect blend of modern design, comfort, and sustainability’ the houses are said to offer ‘a serene living experience’.
The sales brochure concludes: ‘With their eco-friendly features and thoughtful amenities, these properties are an ideal choice for those looking to embrace a green lifestyle in a peaceful, community-oriented location.’
Asylum seekers living in the properties are doing so rent-free – with expected rent in the area coming in at around £1,200 for a home of this size.
Instead the houses have been leased by public services firm Serco under a contract with the Home Office.
It is believed that only one family has moved into the townhouses so far, and that they arrived by a legal route, not on a small boat.
While the decision to use the townhouses to accommodate migrants was hailed as a success by one local councillor, who claimed the community had responded ‘very positively’, the reaction of locals appears to tell another story.
One local complained that many people were struggling to get on the property ladder but were overlooked by the local authorities.
Indeed, many residents in the village questioned why the homes were not offered to locals on the housing list – although the government does have a legal requirement to accommodate asylum seekers while they have their claims processed.
According to the latest data from Suffolk County Council, there were nearly 800 people waiting to apply for council or housing association homes in 2024.
The four conjoined properties are all furnished with sleek kitchens
Migrants clamber aboard a smuggler’s board off Gravelines in northern France last month
The move comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels by 2029 in ‘a controlled and orderly way’.
However, former Labour justice secretary Lord Falconer this week warned that the issue will continue to be a vote-winner for Reform UK unless the government accelerates the speed with which asylum seekers are moved to alternative accommodation.
Labour has been accused of using the courts against the British people after a judge ruled asylum seekers can stay in a migrant hotel.
In a victory for the Home Office, the Court of Appeal overturned an injunction ordering the removal of migrants from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
MPs and the local council reacted furiously, with Reform leader Nigel Farage saying illegal migrants now had more rights than Britons under Sir Keir Starmer.
The Home Office said: ‘At its peak, less than two years ago, there were 400 asylum hotels in use at a cost of almost £9million a day.
‘We have taken urgent action over the past year to fix that system, doubling the rate of asylum decision-making, and reducing the amount of money spent on asylum hotels by almost a billion pounds.’
Serco has been approached for comment.
