Highlands and Islands Green MSP Ariane Burgess has sharply criticised the UK Labour Government’s decision to place around 300 asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness.
She described the move as “high-handed, inhumane, and deeply disrespectful to both the asylum seekers and Highland communities.”
The announcement, confirmed by the Home Office, has caused widespread concern across the region after local authorities and partners said they had received no advance warning or consultation.
The Home Office has reportedly told Highland Council that it will have no direct role in supporting those arriving, and that asylum applications will not be processed locally.
Ms Burgess said the handling of the decision reflects a lack of compassion and respect for both vulnerable people and local democracy.
“This is yet another example of the UK Government treating vulnerable people as logistical problems rather than human beings in need of compassion and dignity,” she said.
“The Labour Government’s decision to impose this plan on Inverness without consultation is not only disrespectful to local democracy, it’s a betrayal of the values of fairness and humanity that Scotland holds dear.”
She said that while Highland communities have a long record of being welcoming, the current plan risks creating unnecessary strain and anxiety.
“The Highlands is a welcoming region,” she said, “but placing hundreds of people in transitional accommodation with no local support structures, no community engagement, and no clarity on long-term plans is a recipe for isolation and anxiety.
“It’s not fair on the asylum seekers, and it’s not fair on the local community.”
Ms Burgess also expressed alarm at the lack of transparency from the Home Office and the absence of clear communication with Highland Council.
“The refusal to engage meaningfully with the Council and the failure to respond to requests for information shows a worrying disregard for local governance,” she said.
“This top-down approach undermines trust and risks stoking division.”
She called on the Scottish Government to demand urgent answers from Westminster and to ensure that future asylum accommodation in Scotland is delivered with dignity and local partnership.
“Scotland must have the power to shape a migration system that reflects our values, one that treats people with respect, supports integration, and works in partnership with local communities,” she said.
“The current system is broken, and this latest decision is proof of that.”
