Sir Edward Leigh has voiced his support for West Lindsey District Council's plan to take the Home Office to court in order to defend the £300 million regeneration deal which has been agreed for RAF Scampton. The air base's future is threatened by the proposal to house illegal migrants at the site in Lincolnshire.
The Gainsborough MP said that "the moment that this is confirmed" West Lindsey District Council "will issue an immediate judicial review and injunction against this thoroughly bad decision, which is based not on good governance, but on the politics of trying to do something."
Sir Edward grilled ministers on the illegal migrants proposal and the impact it would have on Scampton and other local communities.
"How can he guarantee that we will not lose £300 million-worth of regeneration, already agreed and signed, between West Lindsey and Scampton Holdings? How will he preserve the listed buildings and the heritage centre? How will he preserve the heritage of the Dambusters and of the Red Arrows? How can he guarantee that there is no contamination from the fuel bay of the Red Arrows? How will he protect the safety of 1,000 people living right next door to 1,500 migrants and a primary school?"
"Will he work with West Lindsey and Lincolnshire now to try to find an alternative site? We are prepared to do it, but we do not want to lose £300 million of regeneration. Lincolnshire will fight and Lincolnshire will be proved right."
West Lindsey will challenge in the courts any Home Office action that threatens our regeneration plan.
— Sir Edward Leigh MP (@EdwardLeighMP) March 29, 2023
We are happy to do our bit and host migrants but Scampton is the wrong site at the wrong time. £300 million of investment doesn’t come often to Lincolnshire. pic.twitter.com/Q39QMWltF0
