Rishi Sunak defends RAF Scampton asylum centre plans and claims Labour 'has no plan' to stop illegal migration

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended the Conservatives' RAF Scampton asylum centre plans and says he understands the frustration felt by those living nearby. The Conservative Party leader visited Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre in Boothby Pagnell, near Grantham, on Monday, June 17.

Mr Sunak was given a tour of the Lincolnshire nursery as part of his general election campaign trail and was joined by former Grantham and Stamford MP Gareth Davies, who is running for election in the newly created Grantham and Bourne constituency. More than one year after the government first announced plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton, there are still no signs of arrivals at the former base.

Before the dissolution of parliament, the government agreed to hand over 90 per cent of the site to West Lindsey District Council so work could begin on the £300 million regeneration project. When asked if he would match the Labour Party's vow to give up the entire RAF Scampton site and stop the asylum centre plans altogether, Mr Sunak reiterated that the site would only be used "temporarily".

Read more: Full list of Lincolnshire general election candidates

He said: "I understand people's frustration with the situation and I get that it's an emotive issue. That's why we worked very hard to secure a deal with the council to ensure the land would be able to be developed as planned.

"Only 10 per cent or so will be used to house asylum seekers and only temporarily. The choice for everyone in Lincolnshire at this election is between a party who's got a clear plan to stop the boats, so that they stop coming entirely, and the Labour Party who has no plan.

"If you want to stop the boats coming so you don't have to house illegal migrants, you need a deterrent and you need to make it clear that if people come here illegally, they won't be able to stay. That's what Rwanda delivers. That's why if I'm re-elected, the flights will go.

"In contrast, Keir Starmer and the Labour Party said they will release all the migrants we've detained, cancel the flights and offer an amnesty to illegal migrants. So you have to ask yourself, where are all those people going to be housed?

"If you want to put an end to illegal migration, it's only the Conservatives that can deliver that for you."

With regards to stopping illegal migration, the Labour Party manifesto states: "Labour will stop the chaos and go after the criminal gangs who trade in driving this crisis. We will create a new Border Security Command, with hundreds of new investigators, intelligence officers, and cross-border police officers.

"This will be funded by ending the wasteful Migration and Economic Development partnership with Rwanda. This new Command will work internationally and be supported by new counter-terrorism style powers, to pursue, disrupt, and arrest those responsible for the vile trade."

Mr Sunak also vowed to protect Lincolnshire's prime agricultural land from solar farms. He said: "A statement was made in parliament before it broke up which made it crystal clear that we will protect prime agricultural land from solar development.

"I want to make sure that we increase food production in our country and our manifesto not just commits to protecting prime agricultural land from solar development, it also commits to a new statutory target for food security."

Grantham and Bourne general election candidates:

Vipul Bechar (Labour)

Gareth Davies (Conservative)

Anne Gayfer (Green)

Alexander Mitchell (Social Democratic Party)

Charmaine Morgan (Lincolnshire Independents)

Mike Rudkin (Reform)

Ian Selby (Independent)

John Vincent (Liberal Democrats)