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Resisting Asylum Hotels

Friday, 22 August 2025 21:20

By Martin Webber

The leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has said he will "fight very hard" any attempt by the government to house asylum seekers in local hotels.

Matt Boughton said: "Ultimately we've got a housing waiting list of our own and we want to prioritise local homes for local people and that's got to be at the forefront."

Matt Boughton was speaking at the end of a half hour interview live on West Kent Radio on Friday Drivetime with Martin Webber.

No asylum hotels exist currently in the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council area.

He said he thought the country may have to leave the European Court of Human Rights over the migration issue. And he regreted that the government was challenging the court decision that allowed Epping Forest District Council to halt the housing of asylum seekers at a local hotel.

Listen to a 4 minute section of the interview where Matt Boughton answers why he thinks the Conservatives are doing so badly:

Matt Boughton spoke mainly about local council issues including the planned abolition of his own council under the Labour government's overhaul of local government.

Matt Boughton said his "anticipation" was now that Tonbridge would be setting up a new Town Council after the result of the recent consultation.

Here is a five minute edit of Matt's comments on changes to local councils and how to engage people more in local issues. He was asked first how he felt about his own council being abolished.

Listen to the full unedited interview by Martin Webber here:
 

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