Andy Burnham has been slated by Piddington’s Parish Councillor over plans to move over 1,000 illegal migrants into their community.
Speaking to GB News, Tim McNally argued that “from the beginning”, the Oxfordshire town has been “knocked over” by the news of the proposed site.
Taking action alongside their parents, several of Piddington’s children have written to Mr Burnham to ask him to U-turn on the decision.
One child, seven-year-old Rex Perkin, wrote: “Dear Andy, We like our village because I and my family walk down to my sister’s grave to see her.
“I worry I won’t be able to do that anymore. My family has lived here for over 100 years. I love the playing field in Piddington because I (go) there every week. Thanks Andy.”
Meanwhile, nine-year-old Orla West warned the PM: “I do not like this idea because we love our park. We can walk our dogs. We love Piddington.”
Andy Burnham has been criticised by the local Piddington councillor over plans to house 1,250 migrants there
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PA / GB NEWS
Discussing the impact the site would have on the community, Mr McNally told GB News: “It took us a bit of time to absorb what were the implications on us, our lifestyles and the implications on our security.
“And then it sort of dawned on us, actually, the children’s livelihoods, the children’s experience, the childhood experience is going to be wiped out by comparison.”
He argued: “What we intended to have as a family unit here, and now how are we going to have to adjust into the security implications of having this here?”
Taking aim at the Labour Government, Mr McNally made clear that “not a single minister” has sought to connect to the residents in their campaign against the camp.
Children from the tiny town penned letters to Andy Burnham pleading with him to block the move | SUPPLIED
He said: “The very fact that actually the amount of energy we’ve gone into putting Piddington on the map, we haven’t found a single minister to take the courtesy to connect with us. I cannot believe it.
“In two weeks, with all the things we have done, not a single minister has wanted to connect with us and neither share or explain what’s going to happen properly.”
Criticising the Prime Minister, the councillor told GB News that he should “have responsibility” for the security and safety of the community if the site is to go ahead.
He made clear: “We understand what the implications are going to be upon our lives. There’s been no consultation whatsoever, and that’s really been the reason why we wanted to get the children ready to adapt into what’s going to come.
Mr McNally told GB News that Andy Burnham should ‘have responsibility’ for the security of Piddington residents
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GB NEWS
“And also therefore to also share their story back to the Prime Minister. He should have responsibility for our security, our family security, our children’s security.”
In a statement, a Home Office spokesman said: “We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.
“This is an important step in ending the perception you can arrive illegally and be put up in a hotel.
“The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak under the previous government. Overall asylum costs have already fallen by nearly £1billion since this government was elected.”