Labour MP Alex Ballinger has been grilled by host Camilla Tominey in a fiery GB News clash over Andy Burnham’s plans to house illegal migrants in “middle class” areas.
Defending the plans, the member for Halesowen told the People’s Channel Andy Burnham’s plan is “all about making sure the burden is shared fairly across the country”.
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Disagreeing with Mr Ballinger, Camilla argued: “But it’s going to be more expensive, and he said it might be more expensive. Basically he’s engaging in a form of class warfare.
“He’s the king of the North, he wants to make sure that we’re all levelled up, the South must also suffer. What’s he trying to do, spread the suffering?”
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Mr Ballinger responded: “I don’t think that’s accurate, but he is right that the poorest areas shouldn’t face the full burden of housing asylum seekers.”
Camilla then hit back: “The Prime Minister was told it could cost more to push migrants into middle class areas, and he said, yes, it might, but we still need to do it. So he’s prioritising a degree of class warfare over economic literacy?”
The MP disagreed, telling GB News: “I don’t think he’s doing anything to do with class warfare, I think it’s all about making sure the burden is shared fairly across the country. We should be looking at putting them in the most appropriate accommodation.”
Camilla interjected, asking: “Even if it costs the taxpayer more?”
He said: “I mean, cost is a factor, but fairness is also a factor.”
Camilla then argued: “Well, hang on, it’s not going to be fair? First of all, it’s not fair according to the taxpayer to fund people who have come here illegally.
“Second of all, it’s not fair to burden the taxpayer with a higher bill simply so Andy Burnham can flex his levelling up muscles. It’s class warfare, isn’t it?”
Disagreeing with Camilla, Mr Ballinger defended the plans further: “I think you’re mischaracterising it. The poorest areas shouldn’t face the full burden.
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“And I think if you go and speak to people in the poorer areas that have many asylum hotels that we’re now closing, they will agree with you.”
Camilla then told the Labour MP: “But I thought the Government was grappling with the cost of living crisis? I thought the Treasury was struggling to find money for our defences, but now you’re saying you’re happy to spend more money just to make some kind of class point?
“The Prime Minister himself has accepted it might cost more money to house the migrants in so-called nicer areas, but he wants to do it anyway because he’s trying to prove some kind of King of the North point. He’s either trying to prove a class point or he’s trying to spread misery across the country. Which is it?”
Mr Ballinger assured: “I think it’s appropriate, as we’re doing, to move people out of town centres and into military accommodation.”
Turning to his own constituency of Halesowen, Camilla grilled Mr Ballinger on how many asylum seekers “he would welcome into his constituency”.
He responded: “We’ve just closed the final migrant hotel in Dudley earlier this year, that was one of the successes of the Government, and it was very unpopular.”
Challenging him a second time, Camilla asked the MP: “Answer my question Alex. How many migrants are you willing to take in your constituency?”
Mr Ballinger concluded: “If we had a disused military barracks in my constituency that was the most appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers, I would be the first person to say that is where we should be.”
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