SUPER-PROGRESSIVE POSTURING IS KILLING GLASGOW

Hundreds of refugees from cities such as London and Belfast are reportedly arriving in Glasgow and declaring themselves homeless, causing significant disruption and prompting calls for a thorough review of housing regulations. The SNP-led council claims there are hundreds of such cases but cannot provide precise statistics to substantiate this figure. Observations on the ground suggest that thousands may have arrived in Glasgow seeking free housing, and many are reportedly being accommodated. This situation has spiralled out of control, and it is understandable that local residents are increasingly frustrated.

Glasgow’s SNP council, under Susan Aitken’s leadership, states it has processed 1,050 homelessness applications this year from refugees originating outside the city. However, Home Office data for the past two years indicate that approximately 2,274,000 immigrants have entered the UK, yet Aitken claims only a thousand housing applications remain outstanding. This discrepancy raises questions among the people of Scotland, particularly in Glasgow. Under SNP governance, Glasgow has earned the label of the asylum capital of the United Kingdom, a striking designation for a city in a nation of just 5.3 million people.

Aitken has been quick to shift blame to the Home Office, but Labour MP Joani Reid has sharply criticised the Scottish Government for contributing to the chaos. Reid, a member of Westminster’s Home Affairs select committee, attributes the issue to Scotland’s "overly progressive" homelessness laws. She states bluntly: “Instead of working with the UK Government on a fair, UK-wide approach, the SNP have turned Glasgow into a magnet for homeless refugees from London, Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester.” Her point is compelling, as local Glasgow families find themselves displaced from housing lists, with single male refugees from across the UK seemingly allowed to bypass them, receiving explicit priority over Glaswegians.

The situation has reached a point where even the typically progressive Labour Party describes the SNP’s policies as “too progressive,” indicating a significant divergence from their usual stance.

The council faces a substantial multimillion-pound budget shortfall, directly linked to this refugee homelessness crisis. SNP council leaders attribute the issue to Westminster, arguing that refugees are being removed from luxury hotels "too soon," leading to a surge in applications. However, when Labour and the Greens begin to distance themselves from the SNP’s fixation on progressive housing policies, it is clear a serious issue looms. Under Aitken and First Minister John Swinney, Glasgow has become a beacon for homeless refugees from across the UK.

Even the SNP council’s likely understated figures reveal the scale of the problem: 168 applications from Belfast, 133 from Greater London, 76 from Birmingham, 37 from Liverpool, and 50 from Greater Manchester. These numbers, though possibly conservative, highlight an unrelenting trend. In England, councils only house those in “priority need,” but Scotland’s lenient regulations extend to anyone unintentionally homeless, including single men recently arrived in the country. Refugees granted leave to remain elsewhere in the UK can simply arrive in Scotland and apply for housing, which they are often granted, a practice widely acknowledged and documented.

Glasgow council’s own data confirm the issue’s escalation. In 2023/24, they recorded 694 applications from refugees outside the city; in 2024/25, this figure surged by over 50% to 1,050. Since the last UK government adjusted the asylum process, the council has faced 2,127 applications from external refugees. Yet, the SNP appears to welcome this influx, despite the strain on the system and the city’s spiralling debt. Aitken defends the council, stating: “The Home Office’s practice of abandoning refugees at the point when they’re given leave to remain in the UK is driving a homelessness crisis in cities up and down the country.” While the Home Office’s shortcomings are undeniable, the SNP’s permissive rules exacerbate the situation. Scotland’s “progressive” laws grant homeless individuals greater rights than elsewhere, making Glasgow a natural destination for refugees.

Compounding the issue, the SNP Government amended regulations in 2022, preventing councils from redirecting homeless applicants to areas where they have local connections. Reid has expressed outrage, stating: “Glaswegian families are losing out because the SNP would rather posture as super-progressives than face up to the housing crisis in our biggest city.” Her critique is apt, as this policy appears to be a superficial attempt to appeal to a radically progressive base. However, this approach risks alienating voters, prioritising non-voting refugees over local residents. The long-term electoral consequences of this strategy remain to be seen.

The SNP behaves as though it alone can resolve this self-inflicted crisis, but Glasgow’s residents bear the financial burden. Reid is unequivocal: “It’s an absurd position. This is a UK-wide issue but the SNP insist on shouldering it alone and ordinary Glaswegians are paying the price. Their refusal to suspend this legislation shows they care more about scoring points than solving problems.” She advocates for more housing and services to support all residents, not just refugees, but accuses the SNP of being too preoccupied with grandstanding to listen.

Aitken has admitted requesting a pause in the problematic legislation from the SNP Government, but her pleas were rejected. Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, a local, shares her frustration, emphasising the need for more housing: “When I asked the SNP housing minister if she would temporarily review these rules in light of the immediate housing pressure it was creating, she refused to do so, leaving the city facing an unplanned overspend of £66 million on refugee housing next year.” Sweeney believes Glasgow could address the crisis with a robust housing plan, but the SNP remains inflexible.

A January report from the Glasgow City Joint Integration Board, responsible for homeless services, supports these concerns. It noted: “More progressive homelessness legislation in Scotland (which has no ‘priority need’ test and a legal right to housing for all unintentionally homeless households) is seen as a key driver for this increased demand.” While the SNP celebrates having “the most protective” laws, these policies are pushing Glasgow to its limits.

SNP Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan remains steadfast, declaring: “Everyone in Scotland has a right to support when they are experiencing homelessness and temporary accommodation if they need it. Our laws are among the most protective in the world. In a housing emergency, you do not roll back on the rules that offer protection to the people of Scotland.” She attributes the crisis to the UK Government’s mismanagement of the asylum system and the cost-of-living crisis, which are valid pressures. However, these are perceived as excuses to deflect from the SNP’s own mishandling of the situation. Glasgow, already struggling with basic services like street cleaning and bin collection, now faces an overwhelming influx of housing applicants, contributing to a dire environment where young Glaswegians face increasing despair.

McAllan’s refusal to reconsider the rules appears out of touch. While she has appealed to the Home Office for additional funding, this does not address Glasgow’s immediate crisis. The SNP’s commitment to progressive ideals is rendering the city unaffordable, and even Labour, typically aligned with progressive policies, recognises the impending disaster. The SNP must abandon its posturing and take decisive action to support Glasgow before the situation deteriorates further.