Starmer Reiterates Pledge: RAF Scampton Not to House Asylum Seekers

(LINCOLNSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM) Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed that RAF Scampton will not be used to house asylum seekers, sticking to the pledge he made during the 2024 general election campaign and repeated after taking office. The commitment, unchanged as of September 2025, comes as the government pursues wider plans to phase out asylum hotels and reshape the system to be, in ministers’ words, “swift, firm, and fair.” Multiple briefings and public comments indicate there has been no move to reverse the RAF Scampton stance, despite ongoing pressure to find alternatives to hotels while casework backlogs are reduced.

The former Royal Air Force base in Lincolnshire was identified by the previous Conservative government as a potential large-scale accommodation site for asylum seekers, triggering strong local and national opposition. Residents, veterans, and local officials argued the site carried deep historical importance and raised concerns over service capacity and planning. Labour opposed the proposal while in opposition, and, according to local reports and national briefings since the election, Starmer has “stuck to his pledge” as Prime Minister.

Policy position reaffirmed

Officials close to the matter say the position on RAF Scampton fits within a broader strategy to change how the United Kingdom provides accommodation to people seeking protection.

The government says it wants to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the end of the current Parliament, and is working to bring that date forward if possible. However, there is no indication that RAF Scampton, or other similar heritage sites, will be used as substitutes. The line remains clear: the former airbase is off the table for asylum accommodation.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the consistency of the message on RAF Scampton has offered clarity to Lincolnshire residents who feared a return to the earlier plan. For local leaders, it also helps planning around investment and development at the site. While the government explores longer-term capacity for asylum reception elsewhere, keeping RAF Scampton out of the picture removes a major flashpoint that had fueled political debate and community anxiety.

The government’s wider asylum policy, as stated in public forums and policy outlines, focuses on three tracks:
1. Reducing the backlog of claims.
2. Moving people out of hotels into more stable settings where appropriate.
3. Reshaping the system so decisions happen faster with clear outcomes.

Ministers have also pointed to their decision to end the Rwanda arrangement inherited from the previous administration. Those efforts are “in progress,” with no changes to the position on RAF Scampton signaled.

Starmer’s stance aligns with local sentiment in Lincolnshire, where community groups had long argued that using RAF Scampton would send the wrong signal about how the country treats both its heritage and people seeking safety. Campaigners who opposed accommodation at the base say the pledge respects both the site’s historical legacy and the need for well-planned, properly serviced reception elsewhere. Business groups who back redevelopment at RAF Scampton note that policy certainty helps investment decisions.

Implications for the local community and the asylum system

For residents near RAF Scampton, the practical effect is stability: they can plan around the site not becoming a large reception center for asylum seekers. Local councils had warned that sudden, high-volume accommodation could stretch services, from primary care to transport links. Those worries now ease, even as national demand for accommodation remains high.

At the same time, people who work with asylum seekers say the government must still expand safe, decent capacity in suitable locations, because hotel closures alone do not solve the space problem.

Starmer’s government faces two main operational challenges:
– Speeding up casework so decisions are made faster.
– Improving accommodation outcomes so people waiting for decisions are housed in safe, legal, and cost-effective settings.

Officials stress that hotel use is temporary and expensive. Yet any move away from hotels needs careful planning to avoid pushing people into overcrowded or unsuitable sites. The RAF Scampton decision illustrates one red line: sensitive heritage locations are not part of the plan.

Policy specialists note that achieving “swift, firm, and fair” outcomes will depend on:
– Enough trained decision-makers,
– Steady legal oversight,
– Clear pathways for those granted refugee status or refused.

If the backlog falls and decisions become quicker, the pressure on accommodation should ease. But in the short term, the system must balance the closure of hotels with realistic alternatives. That is why, despite the pressure, the government has not shifted on RAF Scampton.

Community voices in Lincolnshire reflect a mix of relief and empathy. Some residents describe pride in the base’s history and a desire to see the site used for culture, education, or business. Others stress that asylum seekers are people fleeing harm, and deserve dignity wherever they are housed. For them, the question is about finding the right places, not simply closing one option. By holding the line on RAF Scampton, the government accepts it must find other solutions that meet safety, cost, and community standards.

Officials continue to say they will publish updates on accommodation and support. For readers seeking official guidance, the UK Home Office provides public information on asylum support and placements, including how housing arrangements are made and what services people can receive. See the UK Home Office asylum accommodation factsheet for current policy materials and updates on accommodation programs.

Political and practical outlook

From a national politics view, Starmer’s steady position helps shape Labour’s message on asylum: firm control of the system without inflammatory measures. Supporters argue the stance shows respect for local communities and practical planning. Critics — including some who want faster hotel closures — say the government still needs to show where large-scale capacity will come from if sites like RAF Scampton remain out of bounds. For now, there are no credible signs of a policy reversal.

People directly affected by the system — families waiting on interviews, children in school, and caseworkers managing complex files — care less about the symbolism of one airbase and more about decisions, safety, and timelines. The promise to end hotel use by the end of the Parliament sets a clock. Meeting it will require careful sequencing:
1. Speeding decisions (reduce backlog and accelerate interviews).
2. Scaling suitable housing that meets health, education and transport needs.
3. Coordinating with local authorities so services can cope.

The RAF Scampton pledge narrows the map, but it also clarifies the government’s approach.

As autumn progresses, expect continued pressure on the Home Office to show measurable progress:
– Fewer people in hotels,
– Faster initial decisions,
– Clear outcomes for those granted status and those refused.

In Lincolnshire, planners and investors now work from a settled assumption: RAF Scampton will not be used to house asylum seekers. That certainty, repeated by Keir Starmer and echoed by local leaders, lets the community focus on the site’s next chapter without the shadow of a large-scale reception plan.

Key takeaways:
– RAF Scampton is officially off the table for asylum accommodation as of September 2025.
– The government aims to end hotel use by the end of the Parliament, while improving decision speed and accommodation quality.
– Local stability around RAF Scampton gives space for redevelopment planning, but the broader accommodation challenge remains.

For more details on current policies and support arrangements, consult the UK Home Office factsheet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-factsheet