Exclusive: Inverness asylum funding concerns ‘could provoke anti-migrant campaign’.

SNP sources are outraged that the UK government has not committed further funds after announcing that 300 men may be accommodated at Cameron Barracks.

The Scottish Secretary at Westminster has declined to commit to additional funding for any strain on local public services in Inverness caused by the plan to shelter hundreds of asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks.

Douglas Alexander claims the SNP Government already has a “record settlement” and should be able to obtain funding in Holyrood. The comment sparked outrage that a lack of financial certainty will fuel anti-migrant protests.

A petition to “stop asylum seekers” has already been launched, with particular complaints concerning a lack of local consultation, overburdened healthcare, and restricted housing.

As of Friday, more than 8,700 people had signed it. “It’s jaw-dropping,” one senior SNP insider stated.

“If there’s not any extra money, it creates the idea that services will be spread more thinly, which is precisely the wrong message.”

The Scottish Government did not anticipate the barracks plan and has not incorporated it into further spending plans for local services within existing budgets.

The Press and Journal asked Mr Alexander if more money would be arriving two days after the accommodation policy was revealed in stories, rather than making a public statement.

‘SNP has the resources’

He stated, “As a UK government, we delivered a record settlement, an additional £5.2 billion to the Scottish Government as part of the previous UK government settlement. “That is the largest financial contribution since the start of devolution 25 years ago.”

Unfortunately, the SNP-led Scottish Government’s decisions at Holyrood have resulted in systematic underfunding of Scottish local government over the last nearly two decades.

“If there are concerns in terms of local government finances here in Scotland, rightly and reasonably, those questions should be directed towards the SNP-led Scottish Government.”

When asked if the Scottish Government would utilise money from its existing budget, he responded, “They are responsible for providing financial support to local authorities across Scotland.” They have the means to do so.

Local MSPs and MPs in Inverness and the surrounding Highlands have already blasted how the decision was reached.

Anger at lack of details on Cameron Barracks plan

Angus Macdonald, MP for Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire, expressed his worries about the location, which is surrounded by houses and adjacent to Millburn Academy.

The ex-soldier, who was briefly stationed there in the early 1980s, sent his concerns directly to Alex Norris, the UK minister for asylum.

Why was I not participating in any discussions? Why was the Scottish Government not in contact, and why were the Highland Council and other authorities only told, rather than engaged?” He enquired.

Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain, who visited the barracks on Friday, raised concerns with the Scottish Government during an urgent question at Holyrood this week.

He stated, “There are simply not enough resources in the Highlands.” Inverness general clinics are straining at the seams, Raigmore is struggling to keep up with appointments, and there aren’t enough dentists to go around.”

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the SNP Government’s social justice minister, told MSPs that she was frustrated by the lack of dialogue with the UK government.

“We are here to represent our communities, and, of course, local residents have a number of concerns,” she told me. “I believe that many of those worries stem from a worry about local service provision. ”

That is exactly why I have written to the Home Secretary twice to lay out specific concerns.” Highland Council will meet on Monday to consider the decision’s impact and next steps.

There are also concerns about the change of use forced on the historic barracks.

The UK Government has not provided the Highland Council with the essential information to determine whether the projects can be carried out without the need for planning permission,” the council said in a statement. In the Commons this week, Mr Norris, who is also in charge of border security in the UK Government, stated:

“My officials have been engaging directly and regularly in advance of this announcement with the Scottish Government, relevant councils, and local service providers, and will continue to do so. “Whatever decisions are made regarding specific locations, we are clear that the impact on communities must be minimised.”

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