Historic seaside town abandons scheme after 339 residents oppose proposal whilst Reform UK mobilises opposition claiming town would ‘prioritise immigration’
Weston-super-Mare has abandoned its controversial bid to become a “Council of Sanctuary” for refugees after more than 100 protesters gathered outside the town hall on Monday night chanting “send them home” in heated scenes that exposed deep community divisions.
The Somerset seaside resort voted to scrap plans first approved in March to join a national network of over 100 councils offering enhanced support to asylum seekers and refugees, following months of fierce backlash that saw opposing petitions, angry public meetings, and intervention from Reform UK’s failed mayoral candidate Arron Banks.
Liberal Democrat councillor Caroline Reynolds, who originally proposed joining the £150 three-year scheme, expressed disappointment at the decision, claiming fellow councillors had been swayed by “misinformation and misunderstanding” about what the designation actually meant.
‘We Don’t Need a Badge’
Labour councillor James Clayton, who led opposition to the scheme, told Monday’s meeting that Weston-super-Mare did not require external validation of its welcoming nature. “We don’t need a badge, we don’t need a certificate, we are a welcoming town, we’ve proven that historically and we’ll continue to prove that in future,” he stated.
Clayton argued the designation would mean “binding ourselves to rules and expectations written elsewhere,” adding: “What I’m against is for an external organisation to dictate to Weston-super-Mare how we should behave or how we should demonstrate our compassion.”
The Labour councillor continued: “We already know how to look after one another, we already understand what it means to be a good neighbour and just signing up to a scheme is replacing general local goodwill with ticking boxes and bureaucracy.
His comments stood in stark contrast to the atmosphere outside the town hall, where protesters waved Union Jacks, England flags, and one Somerset flag whilst chanting anti-immigration slogans. A smaller group of counter-protesters also attended to show support for the sanctuary proposal.
Reform UK Mobilisation
The campaign against the sanctuary status gained significant momentum when Reform UK’s West of England mayoral candidate Arron Banks amplified local concerns ahead of the May 2025 local elections. Banks, who ultimately finished second with 22 per cent of the vote, shared correspondence from what he described as a “concerned mother” opposing the plan.
“They say people against it, are a minority, displaying prejudice and intolerance,” Banks fumed on social media. “The silent majority need to vote Reform on May 1 and sort these b******s out.”
A petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped gathered 950 signatures and was handed to the council in early August, prompting Weston Trades Council to organise a counter-petition with similar numbers.
Survey Reveals Deep Divisions
An online survey conducted by Weston Town Council exposed the depth of community concern, with 339 residents opposing the proposal compared to just 92 supporting it. Residents expressed fears about crime rates, housing shortages, and access to GP services.
Matt, a protester outside Monday’s meeting, told the BBC: “There’s a load of unvetted people coming across, we don’t want it here. We can be welcoming but we don’t want to waste resources on a load of unvetted people.”
The council’s task and finish group ultimately recommended abandoning the scheme, citing that “cost, time and commitment” would outweigh “any potential benefit.
Misconceptions About Sanctuary Status
City of Sanctuary UK, which runs the national scheme involving more than 100 councils, disputed claims that the designation would dictate local policy or increase immigration to the area. The charity’s website states it works “to encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.”
Maggie Filipova-Rivers, local authority programme manager at City of Sanctuary UK, described the outcome as “really sad, but not surprising, given the pressure they have faced, which seems really unjustified.
She emphasised that sanctuary designation does not affect how many asylum seekers a town receives, as placement decisions remain entirely with the Home Office at national level. “They build plans which are efficient, effective and compassionate, not only to meet the needs of those individuals, but also to ensure sensitivity to the communities that are hosting people seeking sanctuary,” she explained.
Political Divisions Exposed
The debate revealed significant political fractures within the council, which has 14 Labour councillors, nine Liberal Democrats, and eight Conservatives but no overall control. Conservative councillor Gill Bute said it would be inappropriate to proceed, stating: “As councillors we are only in the roles we’re in because we’ve been voted in by people.”
Liberal Democrat councillor John Crockford-Hawley acknowledged communication mistakes but warned that some social media users had “no interest in truth” and were sharing “hair-raising lies” about certain religions. He cautioned: “Beware, my friends, the 1930s.”
Labour councillor Owen James borrowed a phrase from Donald Trump in his speech supporting the motion’s reversal, telling the chamber: “We will make Weston-super-Mare great again.
Community Impact Warnings
Alison Bancroft from The Other Place community centre warned the council that “the message delivered to our community tonight will have far-reaching effects.” Speaking afterwards, she said: “It’s incredibly hard, seeing what’s happening on the streets of Weston. People are feeling less and less safe.”
“For a group of councillors to say this is a welcoming place, there is a profound lack of awareness of what it actually means to be visually different in this town,” Bancroft added.
Reynolds, defending her original proposal, insisted: “People have been led to believe that the council of sanctuary would encourage more people to come to Weston Town Council and that’s just not true.”
National Context
The controversy in Weston-super-Mare reflects wider tensions across Britain regarding immigration and asylum policy. Currently, an estimated 184 asylum seekers are housed in hotels across Somerset, according to council figures.
The sanctuary movement originated in Sheffield in 2007 and has since expanded to include major cities such as Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, and numerous London boroughs. The scheme costs £150 for three years of membership and provides councils with training and support networks rather than any decision-making powers over immigration.
The council’s finance and general purposes committee has now formally recommended that Weston-super-Mare “further pursue harmony between people… without becoming part of the Council of Sanctuary.
As protesters dispersed into the Monday night darkness, the seaside town’s rejection of sanctuary status highlighted the deep challenges facing communities across Britain as they grapple with immigration, integration, and identity in an increasingly polarised political landscape.
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Image Credit:
Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare — photo by John Smitten, CC BY-SA 2.0
