Over the past three years, Kent County Council has spent almost £30,000 on driving lessons for young asylum seekers who have been granted permission to stay in the UK. These are children who arrived in Kent alone, without parents or guardians, and were taken into the care system. The amount spent on these driving lessons has increased significantly—from £3,567 in 2022/23 to over £20,000 in the current financial year (2024/25).
This spending has caused a lot of controversy. Critics, particularly in right-wing media, have called it “an outrage.” They argue that British taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for driving lessons for asylum seekers when many British citizens have to pay for their own lessons. For example, TalkTV host Kevin O’Sullivan questioned why the government is “showering” asylum seekers with benefits like driving lessons while ordinary citizens have to cover their own costs.
However, Kent County Council has clarified that this funding doesn’t come from local taxpayers. Instead, it’s provided by the central government as part of their responsibility to care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Once these children are granted refugee status, they are entitled to the same support as any other child in the care system. This includes things like driving lessons, which are offered to all care leavers to help them gain independence and skills for adulthood.
The council also emphasized that they are legally required to treat asylum-seeking children the same as any other child in care. This means they can’t deny them the same opportunities and support that British-born children in care receive. The courts have made it clear that discrimination in this area is not allowed.
Despite this explanation, the issue has sparked a heated debate. Some people feel it’s unfair to spend public money on driving lessons for asylum seekers, especially when many British families are struggling with the cost of living. Others argue that these young people, who have often fled dangerous situations, deserve the same chances to build a life in the UK as anyone else.
The discussion has also raised broader questions about how asylum seekers are supported in the UK. While some see these benefits as necessary for integration and independence, others view them as excessive, particularly when public services like healthcare and education are under strain.
What do you think? Should asylum-seeking children receive the same support as British children in care, including driving lessons? Or is this an unfair use of public funds? Share your thoughts!
