'National disgrace!' Labour gave asylum seekers priority over veterans for 'Migrant Street' homes

Labour handed the infamous "Migrant Street" new-build homes to asylum seekers while dozens of veterans sat on a waiting list.

Locals in Stoke Heath were left in fear after they learned of plans to flood 83 illegal migrants into their village's £250,000-valued properties.

No fewer than 21 homes were snapped up by outsourcing firm Serco to put up the migrants.

That sparked a national outcry which eventually saw the Home Secretary step in and put the plans on ice.

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Last night, it came to light that the asylum seekers were given their new lodgings - while even more veterans waited for social housing.

A total of 131 veterans are on Shropshire Council's social housing register, the Mail revealed.

Seven made homelessness applications to the authority.

The Lib Dem-run council says it is "committed to ensuring veterans and their families are treated fairly" - and explicitly blamed the Home Office and Serco.

"It was the decision of the Home Office - with their partners Serco - to place asylum seekers at Dutton Close, Stoke Heath, not Shropshire Council's," it said.

A spokesman insited that officers and cabinet members alike have "strongly opposed" putting up illegal migrants in Stoke Heath, and confirmed they have written to the Home Office to raise concerns while considering further action.

Veterans, Reform UK and the Tories have all piled into the Home Office after the fresh scandal was brought to light.

Former Royal Engineer Stu Mendelson told the Mail: "The debate over Stoke Heath shouldn't overshadow the veterans already waiting for housing in Shropshire. Armed Forces Day has just passed.

"Now is the time to ask whether we're doing enough for those who've already served."

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, branded it a "national disgrace" how veterans who risked their lives for their country "have been bumped to the back of the queue for housing in favour of asylum seekers".

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And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp added: "This disgraceful decision is a slap in the face to veterans who served our country and defended our freedoms, yet are pushed aside for illegal immigrants who have no right to even be here.

"Keir Starmer has presided over record small boat crossings and an asylum accommodation bill that keeps climbing.

"Labour do not have the backbone to tackle this issue."

Locals had led the charge against the homes before the council and local Tory MP Mark Pritchard tabled their fears to the Government.

One, Samantha Waters, said: "I'm absolutely terrified to be absolutely honest.

"I'm scared for myself and the other people on the estate and the children and I feel that we're going to become prisoners in our own homes."

One more local told GB News how Stoke Heath was "vulnerable and isolated" - as the village is not served by bus routes, has no shops of its own, and poor to no phone signal.

Another resident said it was "bang out of order" how migrants were being moved into brand-new, six-figure homes.

"It doesn't feel fair that these people will be living in shiny new homes free of charge, which hardworking local folk could never afford," they said.

The migrants who had already been moved in were later relocated, Mr Pritchard confirmed to GB News.

But writing for Britain's News Channel, he said he feared the Government "would have continued to place asylum seekers into Stoke Heath in the hope nobody would notice" had he not raised the issue in the Commons.

The Home Office now says it has introduced “robust processes” to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath can “never be considered again”.

A spokesman said: “New homes should never house asylum seekers.

“The Home Secretary has directly intervened to stop migrants being moved into the Stoke Heath development and no asylum seekers remain on site.

“Earlier this year, the Home Secretary introduced robust processes to ensure new-build sites can never be considered again.”

It is understood the Shropshire development pre-dates new processes introduced by the Home Secretary which guide against housing asylum seekers in new-build properties that could increase "social tensions".

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