Politics

Migration Uproar as Reform UK Reveals ‘Six Freebies’ Given to Asylum Seekers

Published on June 19, 2025

British taxpayers are picking up the tab for a list of freebies given to asylum seekers, including things like digital inclusion workshops and rugby sessions, according to Reform UK. Zia Yusuf, the party’s former chairman and now head of its efficiency unit, says the revelations will leave many hard-working people feeling completely infuriated.

A survey carried out by the Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership looked into what activities asylum seekers in local hotels would like access to, aiming to address the “specific needs of some of our more vulnerable communities.” The asylum seekers involved were all men from the Middle East and East Africa, reported the Express.

From that survey, six activities have been rolled out, all funded by the public purse. They include a regular onsite health inclusion service, one-stop shops to promote health and wellbeing, Turning Point mental health group sessions, Featherstone Rovers rugby activities, behavioural psychologist reviews, and digital inclusion workshops.

Zia Yusuf didn’t hold back in his criticism. “These are not ‘customers’, they are paid for by taxpayers, in many cases here illegally,” he said. “The worst part is that local taxpaying residents are never consulted. In fact, they are blocked from having a voice before people are deposited in their area. Yet, the ‘health and wellbeing service’ which taxpayers get is in total disrepair. It’s unfairness verging on wickedness. It’s time to put British people first.”

The outrage doesn’t stop there. William Yarwood from the TaxPayers’ Alliance also weighed in, slamming the situation as completely out of touch with reality. Speaking to GB News, he said: “It’s outrageous that illegal migrants in hotels are treated like VIP ‘customers’ while taxpayers struggle daily. Locals haven’t been asked, and yet they’re forced to pick up the bill for whatever perks and wellbeing services will be provided. Britons have had enough of coughing up for services and luxuries for people who shouldn’t be here in the first place.”

This storm comes as pressure ramps up on the Government to get a grip on the ongoing crisis at the Channel. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently suggested that countries failing to cooperate on small boat returns might face a tightening of visa rules for their citizens.

But Reform leader Nigel Farage wasn’t having any of it. Hitting back, he tore into the PM’s comments. “What the hell is the Prime Minister going on about? We’re talking about illegal immigration and he wants to give them visas,” Farage said.

“He just said we’ve got to look at visas which means what he’s really saying is we’ll open up legal routes to Eritrea, we’ll open up legal routes to Afghanistan. This man hasn’t got a clue, he literally hasn’t got a clue.”

With all of this unfolding, public frustration is reaching a boiling point. As more stories emerge about taxpayer-funded benefits for asylum seekers, while local services for residents continue to creak under pressure, the feeling for many is that priorities are completely upside down.

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