It comes after the MP for Wetherby and Easingwold met with Home Office officials to discuss the controversial plans to house up to 1,200 asylum seekers at the former RAF site. It is understood that the government hopes large former military sites will play an “important role” in reducing the pull factors for asylum seekers entering the UK illegally. He said: “It won’t stem the flow of illegal immigration into the United Kingdom.” The MP said he was working with the community of Linton-on-Ouse on penning a technical, detailed objection to the proposal. The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak of 56,000 in 2023.