Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister says plans to house asylum seekers at the Commercial Hotel, Cleator Moor ‘is a lie.’

The MP for the town has spoken out as a story is circulating on social media about a plan for the former Commercial Hotel in Cleator Moor to be used to house asylum seekers.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister said: “This is a lie.

“Similar stories are circulated quite regularly about different locations around West Cumbria being used to house asylum seekers.

“They’re never true. They’re being shared by people who want to whip up community tensions.

“I have spoken to Serco this week, the company responsible for housing asylum seekers across the North West of England, and they have confirmed there is no plan to use this property for this purpose.”

Mr MacAlister then clarified the number of asylum seekers in West Cumbria.

He said: “For information, there are roughly 50 people awaiting decisions on asylum claims temporarily living in private accommodation in West Cumbria at any one time.

“Not in hotels or social housing. That number has been the same for a while now.

“Serco are not purchasing any more properties in our area and the numbers are not going up.”