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Reform and Tory spokesmen in angry clash over immigration at Piddington

Reform and Tory spokesmen in angry clash over immigration at Piddington

Reforn's Zia Yusuf and Tory Chris Philp were speaking against converting a former military site into asylum accommodation.

Conservative MP Chris Philp and Reform UK's Zia Yusuf had a blazing row at a joint press conference, as they joined villagers protesting against asylum accommodation plans.

The pair clashed when sharing a platform in Piddington to oppose converting a former military site at MoD Bicester into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers.

The two politicians were invited to make speeches about the plans, but things became heated after Yusuf asked Philp to apologise for the Conservatives' record on immigration.

Philp, the shadow home secretary, told Yusuf to "calm down" and accused him of "cheap politics", an assertion Reform's home affairs spokesman dismissed.

Asylum centre on military base near Piddington approved

A press conference led by Piddington Parish Council chairman Tim McNally took place on Friday after Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved the Home Office's application to change the use of the site for asylum accommodation.

The Home Office said this would allow it to continue developing the plan but that no final decision on the site had been taken.

There has been significant local opposition to the proposal and a legal challenge to the planning decision is expected from the parish council.

In September, Piddington symbolically voted to leave the UK over the planned use for the site in Oxfordshire.

In brief

Conservative MP Chris Philp and Reform UK's Zia Yusuf had a blazing row at a joint press conference, as they joined villagers protesting against asylum accommodation plans. Asylum centre on military base near Piddington approved A press conference led by Piddington Parish Council chairman Tim McNally took place on Friday after Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved the Home Office's application to change the use of the site for asylum accommodation.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC News — Politics. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC News — Politics ↗

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