Council Criticized for Spending £250K on Asylum Seeker Jobs For This Shocking Reasons

Reform MP Rupert Lowe has strongly criticized a job contract advertised by Cambridge City Council, calling it a “disgrace.” The contract, worth £250,000, is aimed at providing support and advice to asylum seekers and refugees.

One of the requirements listed in the contract is promoting “anti-racism” practices. Lowe expressed his frustration on social media, telling his 285,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter) that “It’s OUR money funding this” and “We are being RIPPED OFF.”

The contract, titled The Provision of Specialist Advice and Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, has been open to applicants since February 10. It is set to run until March 31, 2028.

The job description explains that Cambridge City Council supports the resettlement of displaced people who have come to the UK through various routes. It emphasizes the need for flexibility in responding to global events that may affect the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. The council also highlights the importance of understanding different cultures and customs and having a passion for working in this field.

Among the responsibilities listed in the contract, which are described as not exhaustive and subject to change, is the requirement to “understand and work to tackle institutional discrimination through promoting anti-racist practice.

The successful provider will also be expected to advocate for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, promote cultural activities in the city, and provide specialist advice and support. This includes acting as a point of contact for community groups, charities, and other agencies, organizing networking events, and offering interpreting services. The provider must also have an office space in Cambridge where clients can visit in person.

The contract covers a wide range of services, including immigration advice, support with Home Office applications, budgeting and financial advice, housing options, and household support such as furniture, food, and energy poverty assistance. It also includes health awareness, trauma-informed wellbeing services, and employability rights and volunteering opportunities. The provider is expected to have a strong reputation in the community and the ability to address misinformation or community tensions, bringing groups together to resolve disputes and promote cohesion.

The contract has sparked significant backlash on social media. One user commented, “I pay council tax in Cambridge, and I am indeed outraged.” Another called the contract an “absolute disgrace,” agreeing with Lowe that “we are being ripped off on a massive scale.” A third user suggested that Lowe should lead a UK version of DOGE, an advisory body led by Elon Musk during Donald Trump’s presidency, which focused on cutting wasteful government spending. Meanwhile, another user claimed they were not surprised by the contract, stating that the council “has long been woke.”

Lowe has suggested that this contract is just one example of a broader issue, claiming that he has found over 200 similar contracts worth at least £6.6 billion. He has also been a vocal critic of what he sees as a growing trend in public sector organizations toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which he believes prioritize quotas over merit-based hiring. Lowe argues that such policies would not exist in private companies, where hiring is based on merit. He has described DEI practices as a “cancer” running deep through British institutions, including the public sector and large multinational corporations.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Cambridge City Council stated that the resettlement schemes for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine were introduced by the previous government and continued by the current one. The council is required to deliver support for refugees settled through these programs, as well as for asylum seekers whose claims have been granted and are living in or around Cambridge.

The spokesperson emphasized that the council receives funding from the central government to provide these services, in line with expectations for councils across the country. They also highlighted the strong support from Cambridge residents for people seeking refuge, noting that hundreds of residents opened their homes to Ukrainians when the war broke out in 2022. The council proudly describes Cambridge as a “city of sanctuary,” committed to supporting those who have left everything behind to seek safety.