A GB News guest has slammed councils for offering perks to asylum seekers, describing schemes including haircuts, discounted bouncy castles, and theatre trips as “clearly moronic”.
Speaking on the programme, William Yarwood from the Taxpayers Alliance questioned whether such services were appropriate, arguing that council taxpayers’ money should not fund what he described as a “relatively luxurious life” for those waiting for their claims to be processed.
The comments come after Immigration officials at Heathrow Airport revealed that they are looking to hire a hairdresser to provide haircuts for migrants awaiting deportation.
The role, paying £31,500 a year, has been advertised by Mitie, which holds a £290million contract to operate the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre.
William Yarwood said that the makeovers are 'clearly mornic'
|GB NEWS
The advert called for a candidate capable of delivering a variety of hairdressing and barbering services, including braiding and colouring.
It stated that the successful applicant would “provide a hair-cutting and barbering service to residents that reflects the cultural needs of the population.”
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Applicants were also told they must create a positive and friendly environment, ensuring clients feel “welcomed and respected”.
Mr Yarwood said on GB News: “Do illegal immigrants really deserve that kind of service? Also, and let's be honest, if they're getting haircuts, it doesn't really signal that they're going anywhere anytime soon, does it?
“So I think that this advertising, this scheme is just clearly just moronic, but also points to a wider point about this entire detention centre.
He added: “I don't think that illegal immigrants should have their haircut.
He fumed that 'illegal migrants do no deserve haircuts'
|GB NEWS
“The only thing that should be cut is the amount of time they spend in the UK.
“I think we talk a lot about two-tiered justice in the United Kingdom. And let's talk about something else.
“I think there's a two-tier access to services now in the UK, where council taxpayers are paying money so that asylum seekers can have access to luxuries and freebies and nice things that ordinary council taxpayers simply just don't have access to.”
The centre has previously sought staff for a range of positions, including a hospitality and floristry tutor, a painting and decorating tutor, and a gym manager at the male-only facility.
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Salaries for the full-time roles were advertised at over £30,000 per year, with the gym manager position listed at £38,873.66 annually.
A Home Office source said that there is a legal requirement on the government to allow detained people to have their hair cut on a regular basis.
A spokesman for Mitie said: “This role is part of our contractual obligations and is standard practice in secure environments.
“We continue to work closely with the Home Office to ensure services provide value for money.”
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