Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has launched a scathing attack on Labour over what he describes as a lack of transparency surrounding the true cost of housing and caring for illegal migrants in Britain.
In a strongly worded letter to Border Minister Dame Angela Eagle, Lowe accuses the Home Office of hiding behind contracts to withhold key financial details from the British public.
Calls for Transparency
Lowe, who has repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament, claims his requests for clarity on the contracts and costs involved in managing illegal migrants have been met with evasive responses. Despite his persistence, the Home Office has declined to provide detailed answers, citing the “disproportionate” cost of collating the information and the need to protect “commercially sensitive” material.
In his letter, sent earlier this morning, Lowe expressed his frustration at the lack of transparency, stating:
“The cost, and detail, around the accommodation and upkeep of illegal migrants is being withheld from the British people. Repeatedly, as you know, I have asked your department for answers — very few have been forthcoming.”
£1 Billion Contract in Question
Lowe’s concerns centre on a regional contract worth over £1 billion, which runs from March 2019 to August 2029. The contract, designed to manage the accommodation and services for illegal migrants, prompted Lowe to submit a list of 16 detailed questions to the Home Office. These included requests for information on:
- Translation and interpretation costs
- Healthcare and dental appointments
- Food vouchers and emergency cash handouts
- Social tension and antisocial incidents
- Costs for taxis, public transport, and recreational activities
In his letter, Lowe wrote:
“With the cost of this contract, one of many similar, exceeding one billion pounds — providing some transparency around its details to the taxpayers funding it is not ‘disproportionate’ in my view. Offering more detail around these contracts, worth billions and billions, used to house illegal migrants should be an obvious step on the path to good and transparent Government.”
Home Office Response Criticised
The Home Office, in its response to Lowe’s inquiries, claimed that the requested information could only be provided at “disproportionate cost” and that much of the data sought was too granular or commercially sensitive to disclose. This refusal has only fuelled Lowe’s determination to uncover the true financial burden placed on taxpayers.
A Demand for Accountability
In his closing remarks, Lowe called on Labour to act in the interests of transparency and accountability:
“Show it to the British people, and they can make their own minds up.”
The letter ends with a direct appeal to Dame Angela Eagle to reconsider her position and provide the data Lowe insists the public has a right to see.
Political Fallout
The issue is likely to add fuel to the ongoing political debate around immigration, with Lowe’s accusations sure to resonate with taxpayers increasingly concerned about the financial and social impact of illegal migration. His calls for transparency come as the government faces mounting pressure to tackle illegal migration more effectively and to provide clear answers on how public funds are being spent.
Labour has yet to issue a formal response to Lowe’s letter.
