Work begins on RAF sites to house illegal Channel migrants in bid to deter small boats

WORK started yesterday to convert a former RAF base into a camp for thousands of Channel migrants — one of three sites confirmed by the Government.

Fencing was seen being put up at RAF Wethersfield as the area was inspected by officials.

Ministers hope utilising ex-RAF bases and a former prison will help deter small boat migrants from making the journey to Britain.

RAF Scampton in Lincs — home to the World War Two Dambusters — plus Wethersfield in Essex and the site of a former prison at Northeye, East Sussex, will offer basic accommodation with 24-hour security.

Children, women and vulnerable people will not be housed there.

But there was uproar among angry locals, who are planning protests. Furious MPs vowed to challenge the proposed camps in the courts and local councils are also preparing to seek injunctions.

Tory Edward Leigh, whose Gainsborough constituency covers Scampton, said: “Lincolnshire will fight and Lincolnshire will be proved right.”

PM Rishi Sunak is also in talks to keep migrants at Catterick Garrison barracks in his Yorkshire constituency in a bid to win over the rebellious Tories.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told the House of Commons he hoped the plans would signal the end of the “gross waste of taxpayer money” on hotel rooms for migrants, which are costing £2.5billion a year.

Councils hosting the sites will get extra cash, with bonuses to set up faster. Mr Jenrick told MPs: “We must not elevate the wellbeing of migrants above the British people.

“It is right we act to recorrect this injustice — we cannot risk becoming a magnet.” And he lashed out at Labour MPs who reckoned the plans were too harsh.

He said the “evil pernicious smugglers” cannot be underestimated and it would be “open season for abuse” under Labour.

Mr Jenrick went on: “You cannot behave in a way that is weak and naive — you have to match them. You have to respond with tough policies. I will not allow the UK to be a soft touch.”

He pointed out European countries including Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and France are also bringing in similar policies.

Mr Jenrick added: “We are not alone . . . we have to take serious and robust choices or we in the UK will be very exposed. This policy is tough but it will also be decent and legal.”

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel claimed the Wethersfield air base near her Essex constituency did not have the infrastructure to cope.

Protest banners have already been put up near the site by furious locals.

The PM is on track to clear the asylum cases backlog by the end of the year. More than 4,000 people have been removed since December.