The Green Party is urging civic chiefs to put pressure on the government over its plans to re-open a controversial immigration centre near Oxford. 

Home secretary Yvette Cooper announced a few months ago that plans were going ahead for the reopening of Campsfield House in Kidlington.

In August, demonstrators took to the streets in Oxford city centre over the controversial plans. 

At Oxford City Council's full council meeting on Monday, October 7, Alex Powell will present a motion to call on civic chiefs to write to the home secretary to urge her to abandon the plan.

READ MORE: Protestors gather in city to rally against re-opening of immigration centre

Campsfield House demonstration (Image: Newsquest) In the preamble for the motion, it said: “In November 2022, this council debated and passed a motion in response to reports that the then government was seeking to re-open Campsfield House for use as an immigration removal centre.

“The motion passed in 2022 condemned the proposed re-opening of the centre and called for the city to be a safe space for refugees.

“On August 21 2024, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the current government’s plans to re-open Campsfield House.

“Cooper’s announcement has been heavily criticised by numerous migrants’ rights groups including Asylum Welcome, Detention Action, The Refugee Council, and Amnesty International UK.”

It added: “Council resolves to reiterate this council’s opposition to the re-opening of Campsfield House. To request that the leader of the council write to the Home Secretary calling on her to abandon plans to re-open Campsfield House.”

In 2018, the Conservative government announced its decision to permanently close Campsfield House as part of its new policy to reduce the UK’s detention estate by half.

This decision followed two major reviews into migrant detention conducted by Sir Stephen Shaw, in 2016 and 2018, which recommended that government resources would be better directed to speeding up the Home Office’s rate of asylum application processing.

The recommendations were fully accepted by the government and Campsfield House was closed in early 2019.

It followed years of problems, including riots, escapes and complaints about conditions.

In June 2022, the Conservative government reversed its detention closure policy.
During the general election campaign, the Labour Party promised a complete departure from the Conservative approach, and cancelled the Rwanda scheme.

Speaking at the demonstration in August, Mr Powell said: “It is particularly concerning to see Labour reiterate their commitment to re-opening Campsfield House.

“Oxford and Oxfordshire are places of sanctuary migrants and refugees are welcome here.

“We want no part in the despicable fearmongering and cruelty of this government.”

The motion will be debated by the full council at its meeting on Monday, October 7 at 5pm in the council chamber at Oxford Town Hall.