Wednesday September 3rd 2025
West Lothian Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Angry demonstrations outside hotels for asylum seekers in neighbouring Falkirk and other areas have been condemned by West Lothian’s political leaders.
The protests followed the Supreme Court’s overturn of an injunction won by a council in Essex ordering a hotel to move asylum seekers out of the Bell Hotel in Epping.
But SNP hopes that a united message could be delivered by all of West Lothian’s political parties foundered when only Independent Andrew McGuire endorsed the party’s call that asylum seekers should not “ be made scapegoats.”
The SNP said: “We defend the right to peaceful protest and recognise many in our communities are facing tough times.
West Lothian will always welcome those seeking sanctuary, whilst challenging any hostility or discrimination they may face.”
“People need hope for their future and they need governments at all levels to address their concerns. But this can and must be done without the need to scapegoat those seeking sanctuary in our society.”
SNP group leader Janet Campbell said: “We believe that we must all stand up to the hateful rhetoric and downright lies which are being perpetrated regarding people fleeing from unimaginable horrific situations.”
Depute SNP group leader Councillor Pauline Stafford said: “Last year, when a protest by the far right was imminent in my ward, it was the local community who turned out to show their solidarity with the asylum seekers.
“The compassion shown by the community towards asylum seekers in Bathgate has brought out the very best in people here.
“They have refused to allow our community to be divided by those, including some politicians, pushing divisive and hostile language. This is the Bathgate I grew up in, accepting, tolerant and compassionate.
“The asylum seekers themselves are keen to integrate and contribute wherever possible and they should be supported to do this in order to break down barriers and ensure our communities remain united.”
Councillor Andrew McGuire, an Armadale councillor who has stood as an Independent since quitting Labour told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’ve committed my support to Janet’s statement and think it’s incumbent on politicians locally and nationally to highlight the benefits of immigration generally and the horrific circumstances in countries that have forced people to want to come to Britain in the first place.
“I have been so moved by the situation in Ukraine. I’ve been hosting a couple in my home since October last year.”
Bathgate’s Cairn Hotel has now houses 88 asylum seekers, fewer than the 92 resident in Falkirk and far fewer than Edinburgh (162); Perth and Kinross (192; Aberdeen (364) and Aberdeenshire (312).
Linlithgow’s Lib Dem Councillor Sally Pattle told the LDRS: “The use of asylum hotels at a massive cost to the taxpayer is a shameful legacy of the Conservatives. Liberal Democrats have long called to end their use.
“We will always defend the right to peaceful protest but no one has the right to intimidate or incite fear.
“The asylum backlog has been far too large for far too long. The Conservatives trashed our immigration system and let numbers spiral. Now this Labour government needs to urgently get a grip on the crisis.
“ A faster application process would mean that those with no right to be here are sent back swiftly and those who do have a valid claim can get a job, integrate and contribute to the community.”
Conservative Group leader Damian Doran-Timson declined to comment
Council and Labour group leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick met with the Labour group before he told the LDRS that the group has long opposed sectarianism and racism.
But, he stressed that the decisions on the siting of hotels were reserved to the Westminster government,
He told the LDRS: “Labour will always oppose racism and sectarianism. Asylum seekers accommodation is a retained power with accommodation arranged by the Home Office being part of the UK Government.
“It is not a matter for local authorities.
“West Lothian Council Labour Group has a total focus on the delivery of quality local services for the good people in our county which has been made very difficult by the SNP controlled Scottish Government since 2007 failing to give adequate funding to Councils in Scotland.”
Referring to her party’s statement, SNP group leader Councillor Campbell said: “we hoped this would be a joint statement from all political groupings. We asked all group leaders to agree to this.”
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