Migrant Housing Crisis, Asylum System Row & UK Under Pressure
From Afternoon Empire with Ian Collins by talkRADIO
April 15, 2026 · 29 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the migrant housing crisis in the UK, exploring the implications of relocating asylum seekers and the broader economic and security challenges facing the country.
Mark Dolan sits in for Ian Collins as we ask: Is moving migrants out of hotels and into local communities really the solution, or just shifting the problem? With Keir Starmer’s government reportedly relocating thousands of asylum seekers, concerns are growing over cost, integration and pressure on public services. Former Home Office minister Norman Baker reacts to the policy, alongside revelations from a BBC investigation suggesting some migrants may be exploiting the asylum system- raising fresh questions about border control and vetting. Maxwell Marlow from the Adam Smith Institute joins to discuss the wider economic picture, as warnings mount that Britain could face the biggest economic shock in the G7, driven by energy costs and global instability. And former defence minister Tobias Ellwood weighs in on national security, with the military being asked to make savings while preparing for potential conflict, prompting concerns over whether the UK is stretching its resources too thin. From immigration and housing to economic pressure and defence, we ask whether current policies are fixing the crisis, or making it harder to control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
People in this episode
Host: Mark Dolan
Guests: Norman Baker, Maxwell Marlow, Tobias Ellwood
Topics covered
- migrant housing crisis
- asylum system
- UK economy
- national security
- public services
- border control
Keywords
- migrants
- asylum seekers
- UK economy
- public services
- national security
- border control
- energy costs
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC, Adam Smith Institute
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