South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has slammed the UK Labour Government, after a minister confirmed it backs Senedd ministers’ controversial Nation of Sanctuary asylum seeker plan.
On Wednesday 29th October, Conservative MP Rebecca Smith raised the plan in the House of Commons, pointing out immigration and asylum are not devolved to the Senedd.
She said public services in Wales have fallen below acceptable standards because Senedd ministers have prioritised the plan, which she said, “is believed to support services for some illegal immigrants”.
She asked Wales Office minister Anna McMorrin MP if she agreed “it is high time her colleagues scrapped this wasteful, non-devolved policy and instead focused their time on lowering NHS waiting times and improving standards.”
McMorrin refused, making the argument that the scheme has supported Ukrainians, a point Mr Davies described as “discredited”.
Mr Davies said:
“Keir Starmer’s government claims to support border control, but that position cannot be reconciled with its support for Plaid and Labour Senedd members’ plan to make Wales a Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers.
“Immigration and asylum are not devolved, yet Senedd ministers spend energy and resources on this policy that acts as a pull factor, encouraging more people to come to Britain illegally.
“The argument that the Nation of Sanctuary supports Ukrainians is discredited and does not stand up to scrutiny – other parts of Britain have warmly welcomed people from Ukraine without signing up to this ideological scheme.”
ENDS
NOTE: Link to the original article can be found here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2evgjly1zo
NOTE: Please find below House of Commons Hansard from 29th October 2025
Rebecca Smith
Under the Welsh Labour Government, waiting lists, educational standards and opportunities for young people have all ground to an abrupt halt. It is therefore shocking that the Welsh Labour Government are not prioritising issues that would make a real difference to the people of Wales. Instead, Labour Ministers, supported by Plaid Cymru, are ploughing tens of millions of pounds into their nation of sanctuary policy, which is believed to support services for some illegal immigrants. Does the hon. Lady agree that it is high time her colleagues scrapped this wasteful, non-devolved policy and instead focused their time on lowering NHS waiting times and improving standards?
Anna McMorrin
It sounds like the hon. Member does not agree with welcoming the thousands of Ukrainian refugees that the UK Government’s nation of sanctuary has supported. The scheme has been used to welcome Ukrainian families fleeing from Russian aggression. That is a cause that I understood her party supported.