“The full costs at RAF Linton-on-Ouse must be counted,” the letter reads. “Any business case must include capital works, water, sewage and electricity infrastructure, security, transport, healthcare, policing, emergency services, maintenance, decommissioning and site restoration – not merely accommodation contracts.”
Prof Matthias accused the Government of “frequent contradictions” in promising taxpayer savings, before leaning on a manifesto pledge.
“Over the last few months, various news outlets have questioned various ministers [on the cost of asylum centres], saying it’s projected to cost more,” she told GB News. “There are NAO reports going back to 2005 that state it is much more expensive to put asylum seekers in these former military bases.
“When the Government is challenged on that particular point, they say, ‘Well, it is not about the cost, it is a manifesto promise – we said we would get them out of hotels’. So they are aware that it costs more.”