Highland MP Angus MacDonald has urged the UK Government to rethink its proposal to house 300 asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, following a meeting with Asylum Minister Alex Norris MP.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire met the Minister today to convey the concerns of local residents and service providers, calling for greater transparency and community engagement over the controversial plan.
Mr MacDonald has now invited the Minister to visit Inverness to hear directly from those affected.
“This proposal was imposed on Highland communities with no consultation whatsoever,” said Mr MacDonald.
“The Minister has acknowledged that I should have been informed, and I appreciate that apology, but it should never have happened in the first place.
“Local people deserve clarity, not decisions made behind closed doors.”
He added that nothing in the meeting had changed his position that Cameron Barracks is an inappropriate site for accommodating such large numbers of asylum seekers.
“With the battalion being deployed overseas, the military families living directly behind the barracks have voiced their serious concerns and I made sure these voices were heard by the Minister,” he said.
Mr MacDonald also criticised the previous Conservative Government’s handling of the asylum system, blaming years of inaction for the current crisis.
“The Conservatives trashed the immigration system, allowed the backlog to spiral out of control, and removed us from international agreements that allowed us to return people safely and lawfully,” he said.
He urged the Labour Government to act swiftly to repair the damage and prioritise efficiency over emergency measures.
“While this Government has inherited a broken system, they must now focus on speeding up asylum decisions rather than shuttling people to inappropriate sites like Cameron Barracks,” he said.
Mr MacDonald proposed the introduction of ‘Nightingale processing centres’ a temporary measure modelled on the Covid response to clear the backlog within six months.
“That would ensure people with no right to be here are returned swiftly, while those with valid claims can get on with working, integrating, and contributing to our communities,” he said.
“I will continue to push for full engagement and proper solutions. Cameron Barracks is not the answer, tackling the backlog is.”
