Sunderland has been taken advantage of for far too long. That is going to change.
The latest figures show 818 asylum seekers being accommodated in Sunderland, while 163 local households are in temporary accommodation.
These are different measures, but they highlight the serious housing pressures facing our city.
Sunderland represents just 0.4% of the UK population, yet accommodates around 0.9% of those receiving Home Office asylum support.
That is more than double our population share, and I do not believe it is remotely fair.
As Leader of Sunderland City Council, I am announcing that our Reform UK administration is undertaking a comprehensive review of all resettlement schemes and asylum dispersal arrangements affecting our city.
I want every agreement examined, every financial commitment scrutinised and every opportunity to reduce the burden on Sunderland explored.
Where participation in schemes is voluntary, we will question why we are involved and whether that involvement should continue.
Where decisions are imposed by the Home Office, we will challenge them.
I am not prepared to sit quietly while Westminster continues treating Sunderland as somewhere it can simply offload its responsibilities.
We have residents struggling to find suitable housing, families in temporary accommodation and public services facing enormous financial pressures.
My responsibility is to the people of Sunderland, not to making life easier for ministers in Westminster.
We will act within the law, but we will use every power and every avenue available to us to challenge the current arrangements.
I make absolutely no apology for that.
The days of Sunderland simply accepting whatever Westminster throws at us must come to an end.
https://t.co/GDu3MmGM8g
"Get lost! How dare you ruin what's part of our country, our DNA in this country."
Ian Holloway had some very strong words when asked about the Man City charges.
The bottom line is Manchester City owe English football an apology. They cheated & warped our game. I know it’s nothing to do with the guys on the pitch but most of them wouldn’t have been there if City had played by the rules. Their achievements feel very hollow right now.
I really struggled to keep my cool here whilst being confronted by a tidal wave of historically inaccurate, deranged and racist bullshit. But sometimes it’s better to just laugh and let them expose themselves for who they really are.
@FrankChatsBack@TRobinsonNewEra Have you heard what the teachers and parents in that school said off the record?
Again.
Clueless.
I fear there’s no helping you mate
https://t.co/YRrCQhBHSf
@SkyNews
Why are you disabling comments on the scathing video about Durham Council?
Surely you’d want an open dialogue for the people of Durham to give their first hand feedback on the state of things?
You’re propagandists, not journalists.
Pathetic
@FrankChatsBack@TRobinsonNewEra Impossible to debate someone who has only read/viewed one side of the argument. You’re making yourself look pretty ignorant here Frankie.
A message from Lucas Ribbands:
My brother and I have Season Cards. We attend the University of York, and now live in York. The last train from Newcastle to York on Saturday night has been cancelled. This means that my brother and I can’t get back home to York after the game v Arsenal, and if we can’t get back, we’ll have to miss the game, and we don’t want to miss it.
Can anyone help us> We’d appreciate it greatly and reimburse the driver properly, if any supporters heading to York or beyond after the game on Saturday, could give us a lift back to York?
Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help.
Thanks, Lucas and Fredric
#SAFC
https://t.co/AE1hFAt6wd
Anybody supporting the @UKLabour Party and their immigration stance needs to watch this. Now.
It’s treason and I’ll hang my legal career on it @danwootton@DouglasKMurray@RealDannyTommo
@mackbhoy@terrychristian Celtic lefties are the most bizarre, nonsensical bunch in the UK 😂 Irish Christian principles might as well be Aramaic for the extent of the comprehension. We get it. You hate the UK and the principles that made us great. I beg you. Go to Qaraoun. See how you get on 👍🏽 fanny.