MAPPED: The 'sanctuary cities' supporting asylum seekers - and how many are Labour-run - do YOU live in one?

This includes mental health and wellbeing support, hosting social events, language classes and help using digital technology.

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As protests over migrant hotels continue in towns and cities across the country, City of Sanctuary groups seek to ease these community tensions by supporting assimilation.

Where are they located?

Here's a look at some of the major UK "cities of sanctuary" - and which political party is responsible for running the local council (see map below).

London

Several London boroughs have City of Sanctuary groups, including:
- Brent
- Wandsworth
- Richmond
- Greenwich
- Lewisham

Wandsworth and Richmond councils also offer discounts on a range of leisure activities to asylum seekers, such as exercise classes.

Each of the above boroughs is run by Labour, except Richmond Council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats

Birmingham

Labour-run Birmingham also has a City of Sanctuary group.

Asylum seekers are able to get support and services through the city's "migrant advice portal" and access language support.

The city council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023, also offers discounts to migrants on leisure activities, including trampolining and theatre trips.

Cambridge

Cambridge, which has a Labour-run council, is part of the City of Sanctuary network.

Its city council has further launched a new set of community grants to fund lessons for migrants, which include arts and cultural projects and gardening.

Sunderland

Sunderland also has a City of Sanctuary group.

The city's Labour-run council announced last month it had temporarily paused plans to buy new housing for asylum seekers after meeting its targets set by the Home Office.

Newcastle

Newcastle is another "city of sanctuary".

Among the services offered to asylum seekers are employment advice and language classes.

Newcastle City Council currently has no overall control.

Liverpool

Labour-run Liverpool is also part of the City of Sanctuary network.

Liverpool is among a number of cities which have seen anti-migrant demonstrations take place in recent weeks.

Manchester

Manchester, which also has a Labour-run council, is another City of Sanctuary which connects with community organisations to support asylum seekers.

The full list of City of Sanctuaries offering support to asylum seekers are:

• Barnet Refugee Welcome Board Barnet London Borough Council - Labour
• Brent Borough of Sanctuary Brent London Borough Council - Labour
• Elmbridge CAN Elmbridge Borough Council - No Overall Control
• Epsom Refugee Network Epsom and Ewell Borough Council - Resident Association
• Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary Lewisham London Borough Council- Labour
• Royal Greenwich Borough of Sanctuary Royal Borough of Greenwich - Labour
• Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees Wandsworth London Borough Council - Labour
• Refugees Welcome in Richmond Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council - Liberal Democrat
• South/ South East
• Sanctuary on Sea (Brighton & Hove) Brighton & Hove City Council - Labour
• Cliffs of Sanctuary: Dover, Deal & District Dover District Council- No Overall Control
• East Hoathly and Halland Village of Sanctuary Wealden District Council - Conservative
• East Kent City of Sanctuary Multiple councils: Dover District Council - No Overall Control, Canterbury City Council - Conservative, Thanet District Council - Labour
• Hastings Community of Sanctuary Hastings Borough Council - Green Party
• Reading City of Sanctuary Reading Borough Council - Labour
• Resettlement CIC (Reading) Reading Borough Council - Labour
• Midlands
• Nottingham City of Sanctuary Nottingham City Council - Labour
• Sandwell Borough of Sanctuary Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - Labour
• Birmingham City of Sanctuary Birmingham City Council - Labour
• Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees Bromsgrove District Council - Conservative
• Redditch Borough Council - Conservative
• Coventry City of Sanctuary Coventry City Council - Labour
• Derby City of Sanctuary Derby City Council - Labour
• Evesham Vale Welcomes Refugees Wychavon District Council - Conservative
• Herefordshire City of Sanctuary Herefordshire Council - Conservative
• Leicester City of Sanctuary Leicester City Council - Labour
• Lichfield District of Sanctuary Lichfield District Council - Conservative
• Lincoln City of Sanctuary City of Lincoln Council - Labour
• Loughborough Town of Sanctuary Charnwood Borough Council - Conservative
• Northampton Town of Sanctuary West Northamptonshire Council - Reform UK
• Shropshire County of Sanctuary Shropshire Council - Liberal Democrats
• Stafford Town of Sanctuary Stafford Borough Council - Conservative
• Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary Wolverhampton City Council - Labour
• Worcester City Welcomes Refugees Worcester City Council - Conservative
• Wyre Forest Community of Sanctuary Wyre Forest District Council - Conservative
• Yorks, Humber and Greater Lincs
• Barnsley City of Sanctuary Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council - Labour
• Bentham City of Sanctuary North Yorkshire Council - Independent
• Bradford City of Sanctuary Bradford City Council - Labour
• Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary Calderdale Borough Council - Labour
• Craven District of Sanctuary North Yorkshire Council - Liberal Democrat
• Louth Area of Sanctuary East Lindsey District Council - Conservative
• Garforth Refugee Group Leeds City Council - Labour
• Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary North Yorkshire Council - Liberal Democrat
• Horsforth Town of Sanctuary Leeds City Council - Labour
• Hull City of Sanctuary Kingston upon Hull City Council - Reform UK
• Keighley Place of Sanctuary Bradford City Council - Labour
• Kirklees City of Sanctuary Kirklees Borough Council - Labour
• Leeds City of Sanctuary Leeds City Council - Labour
• York City of Sanctuary City of York Council - Labour
• Wakefield District City of Sanctuary Wakefield District Council - Labour
• North Lincolnshire Sanctuary Group North Lincolnshire Council - Conservative
• City of Sanctuary Sheffield Sheffield City Council - Labour
• Skipton City of Sanctuary North Yorkshire Council - Independent
• Malhamdale City of Sanctuary North Yorkshire Council - Independent
• Y&H Maternity Stream Yorkshire and the Humber region - Various
• East
• Bedfordshire County of Sanctuary Central Bedfordshire Council - Independent
• Cambridge City of Sanctuary Cambridge City Council - Labour
• Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign Cambridge City Council - Labour
• Diss Town of Sanctuary South Norfolk District Council - No Overall Control
• Luton City of Sanctuary Luton Borough Council - Labour
• Norwich City of Sanctuary Norwich City Council - Labour
• North East
• Durham City of Sanctuary Durham County Council - Reform UK
• Gateshead City of Sanctuary Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council - Labour
• Newcastle City of Sanctuary Newcastle City Council - No Overall Control
• Northumberland County of Sanctuary Northumberland County Council - No Overall Control
• Sunderland City of Sanctuary Sunderland City Council - Labour
• Tees Valley of Sanctuary Tees Valley Combined Authority - Conservative
• North West
• Westmorland and Furness Council Westmorland and Furness Council - Liberal Democrats
• Preston City of Sanctuary Preston City Council - Labour
• City of Sanctuary Bolton Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council - No Overall Control
• Burnley City Of Sanctuary Network Burnley Borough Council - Labour
• Carlisle City of Sanctuary Cumberland Council - Labour
• Chester City of Sanctuary Cheshire West and Chester Council - Conservative
• Lancaster City of Sanctuary Lancaster City Council - Labour
• Liverpool City of Sanctuary Liverpool City Council - Labour
• Manchester City of Sanctuary Manchester City Council - Labour
• PERN (Penrith and Eden Refugee Network) Cumberland Council - Labour
• Stockport City of Sanctuary Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - Labour

GB News' deep dive comes as Donald Trump called for an end to sanctuary cities "as quickly as possible" last night, as he declared a "public safety emergency" in Washington DC.

The US President claims sanctuary cities, which are loosely defined as municipalities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement, are really "sanctuaries for criminals".

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, August 10, Trump announced his plans to scrap sanctuary cities and place the Washington DC police department under "direct federal control", declaring a "public safety emergency" in the state.

"We have to get rid of sanctuary cities as quickly as possible. We're going to do it too, the US President said, adding: "We have to because it's a sanctuary for criminals, releasing illegal alien gang members onto the streets."