Is there support for a referendum on asylum seekers?

Reform UK says it wants to give people a say on plans to house asylum seekers at an RAF base in Suffolk by holding a referendum. Opposition politicians have called the move a publicity stunt while accusing Reform of attempting to hijack next year's local elections. What do some people living in the county town, who could be taking part in this vote, actually think of the idea and do they want their voice heard?

Julie Smith said she did not believe a referendum was the answer to the issue [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

The proposed referendum is due to be discussed at a Suffolk County Council full council meeting on Thursday.

RAF Barnham near Thetford could be converted into accommodation for 1,250 male asylum seekers for a minimum of 10 years under government plans.

Speaking in Ipswich, Julie Smith said Reform should not be asking people's opinion as part of a referendum.

"I think there's more important issues at the moment," she said.

"They would [say it is a big issue], because it's the only thing that keeps their supporters."

Ademike believed a referendum could lead to a positive outcome [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Ademike, who did not wish to give her surname, said while she did not know much about the wider issue of asylum seekers, she believed the referendum was something worth exploring.

"People should be able to talk about what they want and in a reasonable way that will bring a lasting solution," she explained.

"Something that will make the [area] better. I don't think it's to stir anything negative."

Geoff Walton said the referendum would help the council understand people's feelings [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Geoff Walton, 49, said he was "always up for a referendum".

"You've got to find out the facts behind the matter... you need to look at both sides of the story and go from there," he said.

"[The council] need to find out what the general populace think of all this.

"They'll find out what people's opinions are."

Loreto Mallon wanted to see the UK be more welcoming toward asylum seekers [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Loreto Mallon said while she agreed with the concept of a referendum, this was for an "unfortunate topic".

"These are people who have come through war, through all sorts of awful things to get here," she explained.

"My gut reaction is that we should be welcoming.

"I don't know [if a referendum would be helpful] given the current climate.

Michael Considine did not want to support the referendum because he believed asylum seekers should not be in the UK [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Michael Considine, 66, from Woolpit near Stowmarket, said he would not support a referendum because he believed asylum seekers should not be housed in the UK.

"Unfortunately I don't think [a referendum gets your voice heard].

"I think the council is wasting their time and money because I don't think this problem should exist in the state it has got to.

"It's got worse over the years."

Mason Godfrey wanted to see people given the vote on the issue [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Mason Godfrey, 37, said while he did not vote, he believed people deserved a say on the issue.

"We're human so we should be allowed to have a vote on anything," he said.

"Everyone needs their say, everyone needs a voice because if you don't have a voice then you can't really do much."

Philip Faircloth-Mutton from Reform proposed the motion to explore the referendum [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

The deputy leader of the county council, Philip Faircloth-Mutton, said the referendum would "give residents their say on this most important of issues".

"My preference is that we should not have this problem at all," he said.

"The problem should not even be on British shores in the first place."

He added: "It's not a stunt at all. This is about listening to local people and giving them a chance to have their say."

The cost of a possible referendum is not yet known, but Reform wanted to hold it during next May's elections and therefore only one additional ballot paper would be needed at a "marginal cost", Faircloth-Mutton added.

Andrew Stringer of the Green Party said the idea was a publicity stunt [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Andrew Stringer, leader of the Green Party at the county council, described the news as "a bit of a political circus and a bit of a publicity stunt by Reform".

"What we need to have is that proper informed conversation, which you can have any time with any elected representative, including me," he said.

A vote that was "not legally binding", which would cost money, was "probably not the answer", the Green politician added.

The local Conservative and Labour parties echoed Stringer on Wednesday and said there were other issues Reform should be focused on.

Reform has control of the county council and so the motion for a referendum is likely to succeed, but the wording of any question put to the public would need to be determined.

As well as this, asylum is decided by the Home Office and therefore the referendum would not stop the government's plans.

A Home Office spokesperson said it recognised the "strength of local feeling" and it was "listening carefully to the concerns being raised".

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