Asylum Seekers Might Not Be Happy About What Has Happened to Their New Place Meant to House About 149 of Them

Labour has faced strong criticism over plans to house another 149 asylum seekers in Aberdeen, with a local MP calling the proposal “disgraceful”.

The Home Office informed Aberdeen South MP Douglas Lumsden that it was considering using accommodation on St Peter Street in the city for 149 asylum seekers. Aberdeen already houses hundreds of asylum seekers, and the Home Office said the additional places would take the city above its planned allocation.

The allocation system is used to help decide how asylum accommodation and support should be spread across different areas, based on expected demand.

Mr Lumsden has strongly opposed the proposal and called on the Government to put the plans on hold. He argued that Aberdeen is already under pressure when it comes to housing and public services and should not be expected to take more people without properly considering the impact on the city.

He also accused the Labour Government of using Aberdeen as a “scapegoat” because of its handling of small boat crossings.

Mr Lumsden said local residents had not been given enough say over the plans. He argued that Aberdeen is already struggling with housing pressures and that bringing another 149 asylum seekers into the city could place further pressure on available accommodation.

He also raised concerns about the possible impact on public services, including the NHS.

According to Mr Lumsden, the needs of people already living in Aberdeen should be considered when decisions about additional asylum accommodation are made. He called on Aberdeen City Council to oppose the plans.

The dispute comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood discusses how asylum accommodation is distributed across Scotland. Mahmood remains the Home Secretary, having been reappointed to the position in July 2026.

During a Home Affairs Committee evidence session on September 15, Mahmood was questioned about immigration, asylum and the Government’s wider plans for dealing with Channel crossings and accommodation pressures.

She said Glasgow has been carrying significant pressure because some other Scottish local authorities had not taken what she described as their full share of asylum accommodation.

Mahmood said the Government wants asylum seekers to be distributed more evenly across Scotland rather than being concentrated heavily in particular places.

She explained that there had been no new procurement of asylum accommodation in Glasgow since 2024 and said the Government was trying to reduce pressure on areas that were already above their expected allocation.

Part of that approach could involve finding accommodation in a wider range of areas. Mahmood also said the Government intends to make greater use of military locations and medium-sized accommodation sites as part of efforts to change how asylum seekers are housed.

The aim, according to the Home Secretary, is to reduce the number of asylum seekers being concentrated in areas that are already carrying a large share and create a more even distribution.

However, the proposed addition of 149 asylum seekers in Aberdeen has now led to criticism from Mr Lumsden, who argues that the city itself is already taking more than its fair share.

Aberdeen City Council has previously highlighted the increasing number of displaced people living in the city and the difficulties involved in predicting the pressure this can place on housing and other services.

A council report published earlier this year said the number of properties being used for asylum dispersal accommodation had increased significantly between March 2025 and March 2026.

Mr Lumsden has therefore asked the Home Office to suspend the latest proposal while an urgent review is carried out into Aberdeen’s capacity to accommodate additional asylum seekers.

He said decisions should take account of housing availability, pressure on public services and the number of asylum seekers already living in the city.

The disagreement means the Government is facing the difficult task of spreading asylum accommodation more evenly while also responding to concerns from councils and residents in areas being asked to take additional people.

The Home Office has been approached for further comment on the Aberdeen proposal.