Watch the moment Ben Leo confronts an Afghan asylum seeker in Bolton to find out exactly what support he is receiving from the British state and inform him of his residence’s previous occupants.
Locals have spoken out in the town about the rising number of homes being turned into houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) without any consultation.
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Data from local authorities in Bolton shows the number of HMOs in the area has risen from 170 to 720 in recent years.
Ben visited the Greater Manchester town to find out more about the asylum seekers moving into the area and how they are being supported.
Ben Leo spoke to one of the occupants of the property which previously housed a single mother and two children
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One told GB News: “The Home Office gives me the Aspen (Asylum Support Enablement Card) card, £40 weekly.”
Asked about his living situation, the man told Ben: “No rent. No council tax. This is a shared house.”
Ben probed further by asking if he pays bills for gas, electricity or water and the simple response to each question was “no”.
The People’s Channel fan-favourite then asked if he gets money for food, to which he replied “yes”.
One Bolton local said he is disgusted by how his town has changed
|GB NEWS
Ben continued his trip through Bolton by asking locals how they feel about the uptick in asylum seekers living in the town.
One told GB News: “I’m disgusted in it, to be honest. It’s everywhere you look. I see them hanging about on the streets drinking cans at 8am.
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“That’s what we’re funding, it’s not right.”
Another local asked not to be shown on camera as he feared the potential backlash from “do-gooders” railing against those speaking out about the migrant crisis gripping Britain.
Angela Rayner says every borough must take its 'fair share' of asylum seekers
| PA“It’s terrible. Illegal immigrants should be turned back straight away”, he told Ben.
He was then asked about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner calling for every UK borough to take its fair share of asylum seekers, something he feels could make the situation “even worse”.
“We’d end up with every community in a state of uproar”, he said.
Ben then chatted to Martin, who has lived on the same road in Bolton for 40 years.
One HMO in Bolton
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He showed GB News a building on his road he says is being used as a HMO which is still awaiting occupants.
“There’ll be a communal kitchen and room. I can hear them through the walls and you can smell cannabis”, he said.
“No one is doing anything about it at all. They say ‘Operation Scatter’, but we’re getting it.”
Ben was then called over by a Greater Manchester Police officer in a strange moment, leading the GB News star to question whether the authorities were alerted about his presence.
Ben Leo went to Bolton to find out how the town is reacting to the influx of asylum seekers
|GB NEWS
The aforementioned Afghan asylum seeker was asked by Ben whether he was aware of the previous occupants of his accommodation.
The GB News star said he was “stunned” after informing him that an English family comprised of a single mother with her two children had been booted out so he and other migrants could move in.
Asked how he feels about it, the asylum seeker admitted he thinks children should be prioritised when it comes to social housing.
“I am sorry”, he added. “This is not good news, this is very bad news.”
A Serco spokesman told GB News: “Serco is, in agreement with the Home Office, stopping the acquisition of more accommodation for asylum seekers in Bolton.
“We take all appropriate steps to confirm the suitability of addresses and work closely with the local authorities, who are directly involved in the selection of individual properties.”
The Home Office has been approached by GB News for comment.