Inverness councillor Dr Michael Gregson has spoken out against what he calls disappointing populism in the reaction to asylum seekers being housed at Cameron Barracks.
Mr Gregson says MP Angus MacDonald’s Facebook comments were unhelpful and risked fuelling fear in the community.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire had called for urgent meetings with officials and questioned whether people would be safe with migrants in the city.
Mr Gregson said he was saddened by the tone and expected better from a Liberal Democrat representative.
“The asylum system is in a state of collapse,” he said.
“That means we must find temporary accommodation while claims are processed.”
He said the huge backlog of asylum cases was created by years of slow processing and inaction under Conservative governments.
He added that placing people in Cameron Barracks was not connected to the wider housing emergency.
“That crisis,” he said, “is due to inadequate housebuilding and council funding from the SNP Scottish Government, despite record levels of support from Westminster.”
He welcomed the shift away from using hotels, noting that the Craigmonie Hotel in Inverness and Elgin’s Eight Acres Hotel had both been used in recent years without incident.
“The Government has halved the use of hotels,” he said, “and is determined to end this Tory legacy.”
Mr Gregson highlighted that Cameron Barracks had previously hosted Afghani families who have since enriched Highland life.
He praised community projects such as the pop-up café at Café 1668 and the exhibition organised by the Council’s Adult Learning team and the Highland Integration Network, showcasing the art and stories of Afghan, Syrian and Ukrainian residents.
He said Highland Council had an important role to play in ensuring services could meet any new demand.
But he criticised what he called a grudging and resentful tone from the SNP-controlled Council.
“While the SNP like to claim Scotland is more welcoming than England,” he said, “they now need to show it, not just say it.”
He added that the Council meeting on November 6th should be open to the public, so residents can hear directly how the situation will be managed.
Mr Gregson said hosting asylum seekers would be a challenge for some communities but urged collaboration, understanding and calm.
“All agencies must work together,” he said.
“Division and hate only harm us all.”
