MP Confronts Reform Over Asylum Accommodation ‘Misinformation’ in Crewe

Labour MP Challenges Reform Party’s Misinformation About Asylum Accommodation

Crewe and Nantwich MP Connor Naismith has publicly confronted the local Reform UK Party for spreading false information about accommodation facilities in Crewe, accusing them of stirring unfounded concerns about asylum seekers in the community.

The dispute centers on Booth Hall at the Apollo Buckingham Health Science Campus, a former Manchester Metropolitan University student residence. In a Facebook post dated March 12, 2026, the Crewe and Nantwich Reform Party expressed “serious concerns about the potential impacts of housing asylum seekers near Springfield School” and referenced plans to relocate individuals from hotels into this former student accommodation.

Similar claims were made by Reform’s candidate in the upcoming Crewe South by-election. The candidate commented on a Facebook video about the Crewe Arms Hotel, which was being used for asylum accommodation, suggesting that “plans are to have more if rumours are correct at the [Manchester Metropolitan University] site.”

Following these claims, Naismith contacted the Home Office to verify the situation. Officials confirmed that the accommodation is not housing any asylum seekers. According to planning documents from Cheshire East Council, the facility has instead been contracted to the YMCA to provide housing for vulnerable individuals from various backgrounds, including families with young children, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness—all of whom have legal status in the UK.

“It’s a shame that the Reform Party chose to jump to conclusions about local people in our area instead of figuring out the truth,” Naismith said in response to the misinformation. “Crewe and Nantwich deserves better than candidates who will gamble with people’s safety for votes.”

This incident highlights growing tensions over immigration and asylum policies in the UK, which have become increasingly contentious political issues. Reform UK, which emerged from the former Brexit Party, has positioned itself as a right-wing alternative focusing heavily on immigration control and opposing what it describes as “mass immigration.”

The spread of misinformation about asylum seeker accommodation has become a recurring issue in several UK communities, sometimes leading to protests and increased community tensions. Local authorities and MPs have increasingly found themselves needing to address rumors and clarify the actual use of various facilities.

Housing for asylum seekers remains a sensitive topic across Britain as the government grapples with processing thousands of asylum applications. The use of hotels and other temporary accommodation has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with concerns about costs, living conditions, and integration into local communities.

In Crewe, the situation at Booth Hall represents a different approach to addressing local housing needs. The YMCA’s involvement indicates a focus on supporting vulnerable community members rather than housing asylum seekers as claimed by Reform representatives.

The incident underscores the importance of fact-checking before making public statements about sensitive community issues, particularly those involving vulnerable populations. It also demonstrates how misinformation can rapidly spread through social media channels and potentially affect community cohesion.

As the Crewe South by-election approaches, this exchange between Naismith and Reform UK candidates signals that immigration and housing issues will likely remain prominent in local political discourse, reflecting broader national debates on these topics.