Opinion: 'I fully understand and share concerns of Cladhan protesters' says Tory MSP
Since the summer, Falkirk has become a flashpoint in the debate over illegal immigration with protests and counter-protests over the use of Cladhan Hotel to house up to 90 males who are seeking asylum.
I fully understand and share the concerns of locals who are protesting outside the hotel. They are not opposed to genuine asylum seekers seeking refuge. What they are opposed to, however, is the decision to convert a prominent local hotel into asylum accommodation, without any warning.
Residents are rightly asking, why here? They are opposed to prioritisation of illegal immigrants, whilst at the same time they feel abandoned as their own standards of living deteriorate and taxes rise to pay for all this.
While the Home Office is responsible for the asylum system, the SNP Scottish Government cannot simply wash their hands of the consequences. They have loudly and proudly argued for open borders – without any thought for the consequences and the strain of resources.
SNP politicians will denounce anyone with concerns about immigration as racist and not welcome in Scotland.
No matter, what any party says, tackling illegal immigration is a tough task. We must start by distinguishing between genuine refugees and those who have entered the country illegally.
The system must be fair, but also firm. We must move away from the "pull factor” of hotel accommodation, create a system that processes claims swiftly, deters boat crossings, and removes failed asylum seekers.
Most importantly we must put the needs of hard-working Falkirk residents first. Where they feel abandoned, we must support them, we must reduce their taxes, and we must improve local services. That is where my focus remains.