Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has opposed the proposal to house illegal migrants temporarily at RAF Scampton.

Speaking at Home Office questions in the House of Commons, Sir Edward highlighted the eightieth anniversary of the formation of the famous Dambusters 617 Squadron that flew from Scampton.

"Will the Home Secretary have a conversation with her Minister for Immigration about the meeting I had this morning with him, West Lindsey District Council, and Scampton Holdings," Sir Edward asked, "in which the Minister was told in terms that if the Home Secretary goes ahead with her plan for 1,500 migrants to be placed there, it will scupper the long-term retention of the runway and the £300 million-worth of investment by Scampton Holdings?"

Answering for the Home Office, minister Robert Jenrick said that "no decision" had been made with respect to RAF Scampton but that the Home Office "will consider all of the things that were said in that meeting extremely carefully as we come to a final decision".

Earlier in the day, the Gainsborough MP had brought Ian Knowles and Sally Grindrod-Smith of West Lindsey District Council to meet with Home Office officials regarding the regeneration plan for Scampton.