'Thrown to the wolves!' Crowborough residents vow to 'not give up' fight against migrant camp after 'appalling' treatment by Labour

Crowborough residents have vowed to "not give up the fight" against the use of asylum seeker accommodation in their town after being treated "appallingly" by the Labour Government.

Having held weekly protests for more than nine months in the town, resident Marmaduke Devereaux-Astley hit out at how the community has been "thrown to the wolves".

Speaking to GB News host Patrick Christys in a special Crowborough episode, Mr Devereaux-Astley said: "This Government have thrown us to the wolves. No one's going to come and save us, no one's coming to help us.

"We are having to fight back in a David and Goliath battle against this Government because they've treated us appallingly."

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The Crowborough local stressed that the community had "not been consulted" ahead of the accommodation being set up for asylum seekers.

He explained: "We've never been consulted, we're still not being consulted, and we feel that the Home Office's intent is nefarious and their tactics are duplicitous and downright dishonest, and I'm putting that diplomatically.

"But we never imagined we would ever be in this situation."

Mr Devereaux-Astley assured that after nine months of protest, the community are refusing to back down their protest.

He said: "We're now nearly nine months in, we've become an incredibly strong, tight community on a journey none of us ever imagined we'd start. None of us wanted to start, but we're not backing down.

"And when the people of the country are having to fight their own Government, something is clearly not working. Something is clearly very wrong."

Speaking to fellow resident Garry, he told Patrick that having been born and raised in Crowborough, he and others are "still scared" for their safety.

He said: "I'll tell you now, though, I'm a resident, born and bred, brought up, my kids, grandkids are here, and it was when the news broke at the first meeting that everyone was just turning around looking for an option to actually have a voice.

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"And this was the best option, to give everyone their own voice to stand up and say how they felt, which was scared at the time, and they're still scared now.

"So all the while the community still wants us to continue, we will do, we will not give up the fight."

Garry also argued that although their main concern is their safety, the town is also frustrated with Government money being "thrown in" to the migrant accommodation rather than helping Britons.

He told GB News: "You've got to remember, it's not just about safety. You've got to remember the amount of money being spent in there while there's people in this town, there's elderly which are struggling, there's people with their families, they can't put food on the table.

"And they're seeing all this money just being thrown into a camp for what is nothing more than illegal migrants. There's no getting over the fact they're not asylum seekers, they haven't been processed to that point.

"They are illegal migrants, so why should the ordinary, honest man and woman who are actually trying to make life better for themselves and their families, suffer when they see all this money just being thrown into one pit?"

In a statement, a Wealden District Council spokesman said: "Wealden District Council understands that the situation at Crowborough Army Camp has caused concern and uncertainty for many residents. However, the council does not accept that it has failed to engage with residents.

"Since the Home Office announced plans to use the camp, the council has remained actively involved, seeking further information and clarity on behalf of residents and ensuring local views and concerns are represented."

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