Self-harm and suicide attempts are among over 400 incidents recorded at the government’s flagship asylum camp last year - focusing a spotlight on the “highly dangerous” conditions at the site that Sir Keir Starmer tried to shut down.
The controversial RAF base MDP Wethersfield, which has been criticised by Sir Keir and former Conservative home secretaries Priti Patel and James Cleverly, is being expanded despite an ongoing legal challenge amid reports of a “mental health crisis” among asylum seekers living there.
For Home Office officials to receive an average of more than one report of a serious incident at the Wethersfield camp each day, and yet take no action to end people’s suffering, is a damning indictment of consecutive governments”.
The Home Office has now decided to expand capacity, telling the local council last week that concerns have been dealt with and the site can house 800 asylum seekers.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government inherited an asylum system in chaos, with asylum accommodation under unprecedented strain.
