County council to step back from refugee role

Lancashire County Council is to withdraw from its role as the coordinating authority helping Afghan refugees find homes across the county.

It said it will notify the Home Office and transfer responsibility by March next year.

Reform's Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for rural affairs, environment and communities, said the cabinet had "carefully considered the options available" and agreed to "step back".

The leader of the authority's Labour group, Mark Clifford, said he was "absolutely disgusted" at the "nonsense" policy.

He said "refugees are always going to be supported and protected" and the Labour party would be "doing everything we can" to help them.

When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of Afghans who had worked with or for the UK government were left at risk of reprisals.

Britain set up schemes to bring those thought to be the most in danger to safety.

The UK ran several routes for Afghans to reach safety, including the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, which were replaced by the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

The schemes are now coming to an end.

Roberts said Lancashire currently has 745 refugees but "no registered people who helped our Armed Forces under this scheme".

"It's not about not helping them," he said.

"The main three problems we have is housing, local government reorganisation, and the unfairness of a dedicated scheme for one group, whereas other groups have to go through five or six different avenues to get the same sort of benefits."

Lancashire County Council said: "This decision relates to the administration and coordination of the schemes rather than the support available to refugees living in Lancashire.

"We will work closely with the Home Office and our partners to ensure a safe and managed transition that protects those currently receiving support and provides clarity for all organisations involved."

It said the decision relates to its role in coordinating refugee resettlement programmes and does not affect the government's continuation of those schemes.

Dawn Judd, chair of Preston City of Sanctuary said: "The Afghans have come here by legal routes, invited by central government and settled in the county by the Ministry of Defence.

"It's a mystery why, of all the refugees living in Lancashire, they've actually targeted this particular group.

"These are mainly families, families with children. These families will need support.

"Presently, some of this funding goes to meeting those costs. These things will be lost."

It comes as several national refugee resettlement programmes begin to wind down and as Lancashire County Council prepares for wider changes associated with local government reorganisation.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.