Council housing favors asylum seekers over homeless, highlighted by pregnant woman's denial

An analysis of government data shows that in 19 council areas, the number of asylum seekers housed exceeds the number of homeless households by more than tenfold, with Hyndburn in Lancashire recording 423 asylum seekers against just 14 homeless households. The disparity was thrust into the spotlight after a 26-year-old woman, 34 weeks pregnant, was refused emergency accommodation by Glasgow City Council and told to return to London, despite the city sheltering more than 3,700 asylum seekers.

Homeless Project Scotland reported the incident, alleging a council worker claimed the unborn child had “no human rights,” and the woman spent a night on a shelter floor before being redirected to social services. Critics, including Robert Bates of the Centre for Migration Control, argue the asylum system creates a two-tier approach that diverts scarce resources from British citizens in need. Home Office data indicate over 74,000 asylum seekers in England, while 123,000 homeless households occupy temporary accommodation across the UK.

Government spokespeople maintain that asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing and that efforts are underway to move them out of hotels and reduce community impact. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over housing policy and resource allocation.