Reform UK councillor has revealed how he uncovered that hundreds of asylum seekers were being secretly accommodated across Portsmouth after residents began contacting him with eviction notices.
George Madgwick told GB News presenter Martin Daubney that the discovery came to light when constituents informed him they were losing their homes through Section 21 notices because their landlords had enrolled in a Government programme to accommodate migrants.
The councillor described the situation as "an absolute mess", explaining that neither he, the council, nor the local Labour MP had been informed about the true extent of asylum seeker housing in the city.
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George Madgwick blasted the council after he was left "blindsided"
|GB NEWS
He said: "I mean, that’s the honest truth we don’t know factually. It’s been an absolute mess.
"So I thought, well, this can’t be right. But then last week, an estate agent contacted me with an actual contract in their hands, showing unequivocal proof that an HMO they were putting up for sale was being used for migrants.
"I went back to the council again, at which point they contacted the Home Office with the evidence and the Home Office finally admitted it. This is the first update we’ve had since 2023.
"It’s not just that there have been multiple levels of assurances that we wouldn’t be getting any more migrants.
"Back in 2022 and 2023, the council made it clear to the Home Office: we don’t want any more.
"When the Home Office recently approached the council to ask if we wanted to be part of the asylum seeker relocation pilot scheme, our council said no. We don’t want any more.
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"Our MP, Penny Mordaunt who of course was Leader of the House of Commons at the time went to Suella Braverman, then Home Secretary, and said the same.
"She received assurances from Suella that there wouldn’t be any more.
"But what the Home Office have now done is use third-party contractors and private companies to bring in their own landlords in Portsmouth to house migrants and they haven’t told a soul.
"Nobody knew about this until very recently, and it’s shocking."
Mr Madgwick highlighted what he termed contradictory approaches from Portsmouth's Liberal Democrat-led administration
|GB NEWS
Mr Madgwick highlighted what he termed contradictory approaches from Portsmouth's Liberal Democrat-led administration, which publicly opposes additional asylum seeker arrivals whilst offering extensive leisure benefits.
The councillor detailed how asylum seekers receive a "freedom card" providing 40 per cent reductions on beach hut rentals and paddle boarding, half-price swimming and gym access, plus discounts on activities including table tennis, climbing, cinema visits and Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes.
"Wouldn't we all be so lucky to get that?" Martin remarked.
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