Weston-super-Mare has officially withdrawn its bid to become a “council of sanctuary,” a status meant to support refugees and asylum seekers through community initiatives. Originally approved in March, the proposal faced substantial opposition, culminating in a September 22 vote by town councillors to rescind the motion following intense backlash led by the local Reform UK party.
Reform UK argued that the motion risked encouraging increased immigration to Weston-super-Mare, despite the fact that immigration policies and asylum seeker accommodations are outside the council’s jurisdiction. The council’s journey began with a town survey and a task group recommendation to abandon the plan, which was ultimately carried out at the recent meeting.
Councillor James Clayton, representing Bournville for Labour, expressed that the designation was unnecessary and could reduce genuine hospitality to mere procedural formality. He emphasized: “Weston is already a welcoming place. We are proud of our history, our traditions, and our people… We don’t need a badge or a label from an outside group to prove that.”
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Contrasting these remarks, about 100 protesters gathered outside the town hall, chanting “send them home” and waving Union Jacks, England flags, and a Somerset flag. Meanwhile, a smaller group of counter-protesters — including anti-racists, housing activists, volunteer litter-pickers, goths, and punk rockers — showed support for the sanctuary initiative.
Alison Bancroft, an advocate for the motion, addressed the council to highlight the broader social context surrounding refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. She described the “council of sanctuary” status as a principled stance rather than a policy change, urging councillors to reject the revocation motion to uphold community values.
Ultimately, the council voted 16 to 9 in favor of rescinding the previous resolution. Caroline Reynolds, the council’s anti-racism champion who initially proposed the sanctuary status, expressed disappointment but reaffirmed her commitment to collaborating with organizations supporting refugees and asylum seekers in other ways.
The council noted that both pro- and anti-sanctuary petitions had been submitted, with public opinion generally divided. A July survey showed 323 residents opposed to the designation, while 103 were in favor. The financial impact of maintaining the status is minimal, with a nominal £150 fee every three years.
During the debate, Liberal Democrat councillor John Crockford-Hawley admitted there were communication errors about the proposal, and cautioned against misinformation spreading on social media, drawing a controversial parallel to the 1930s.
Labour councillor Owen James, advocating for rescinding the motion, echoed Donald Trump’s slogan by saying, “We will make Weston-super-Mare great again!” His remarks received mixed reactions from the council and public attendees.