Aberdeen, a city known for its granite skyline and storied tradition of hospitality, has found itself at the heart of a heated debate over how best to accommodate asylum seekers amid mounting anti-immigration protests. In recent weeks, Aberdeen City Council has publicly criticized the UK Home Office’s decision to move asylum seekers into vacant student accommodation on Don Street and Farmers Hall, following a series of demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers across Scotland.
The move, which came after a spate of protests—including several in Aberdeen’s North East—has been met with deep concern by local officials. According to STV News, the council’s co-leaders, Christian Allard of the SNP and Iain Yuill of the Liberal Democrats, penned an open letter to newly appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In it, they called for an “urgent meeting” to discuss what they described as “significant concerns” regarding the decision and its impact on the city’s diverse communities.
“The Home Office is responsible for providing accommodation for asylum seekers. It has failed, though, to engage with local residents and community representatives about this before new accommodation sites become active,” said Ian Yuill, the council’s Liberal Democrat co-leader, in a statement reported by STV News and The National. This lack of consultation, the council argues, has only heightened tensions and “increased risks to communities, students and asylum seekers.”
The urgency of the council’s appeal was underscored by recent events. On September 11, two men aged 26 and 40 were charged with a hate crime following a protest outside the student accommodation now housing asylum seekers. This incident was not isolated; in the preceding months, several anti-immigration demonstrations had taken place outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers in Aberdeen, including the former Hilton Double Tree, Best Western Hotel, and Hampton by Hilton. After one such demonstration on August 2, five men were charged with allegedly inciting racial hatred, according to STV News.
For many in Aberdeen, these protests have cast a shadow over the city’s reputation for welcoming those fleeing war and persecution. “Aberdeen has a great tradition of welcoming people fleeing war and persecution,” said Christian Allard, the council’s SNP co-leader, as quoted by The National. But, he added, “Following the recent protests in the city, residents, students, our own staff, and asylum seekers are not feeling safe. The Home Office and Mears Group must reconsider before moving asylum seekers from one site to another.”
The council’s open letter, addressed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, requested a meeting on or before September 17, 2025, to discuss the rationale behind the move to student accommodation. The council leaders want clarity on whether any impact assessments were carried out prior to the relocation and are seeking greater flexibility in funding to respond to the challenges posed by such abrupt changes. As they see it, the decision to move asylum seekers without local input not only strains community relations but also puts vulnerable people at further risk.
The Home Office, which is ultimately responsible for the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers across the UK, has so far not publicly commented on the council’s request or the criticisms leveled against it. The Mears Group, a private company contracted by the Home Office to manage asylum accommodation, has also been called upon by local leaders to reconsider the practice of moving asylum seekers from one site to another without adequate notice or community engagement.
Aberdeen’s recent experience is not unique in Scotland or the wider UK. In the past year, a growing number of local authorities have voiced frustration with what they describe as a lack of transparency and consultation from the Home Office regarding the placement of asylum seekers. These tensions have been exacerbated by the rise in anti-immigration protests, which often target hotels and other temporary accommodation sites. According to The National, the council has previously condemned the “false claims and harmful rhetoric” displayed at such protests, urging demonstrators to “respect the rights” of those living inside.
The council’s concerns are not only about public order but also about the well-being of both asylum seekers and local residents. The lack of engagement, they argue, undermines trust and makes it harder to address the legitimate needs of all parties. “Residents, students, our own staff, and asylum seekers are not feeling safe,” Allard reiterated, highlighting the broader impact of the protests and policy decisions on the city’s social fabric.
Community safety and cohesion are at the forefront of the council’s demands. The leaders are seeking assurances that future decisions about asylum accommodation will involve meaningful consultation with local authorities, community representatives, and those directly affected. They also want to ensure that adequate resources are available to support both asylum seekers and the communities that host them, especially in the face of heightened tensions.
For many in Aberdeen, the situation has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over immigration and asylum policy in the UK. The city council’s stance reflects a broader call for a more compassionate and pragmatic approach—one that balances the need for public safety with the obligation to provide refuge for those in need. As the debate continues, the hope is that dialogue between local and national authorities can lead to solutions that protect the rights and dignity of all involved.
As of this week, the Home Secretary has yet to respond publicly to the council’s request for an urgent meeting. Meanwhile, Aberdeen’s leaders remain steadfast in their call for change, insisting that the voices of local communities and asylum seekers alike must be heard and respected in any future decisions.
In the midst of these challenges, Aberdeen’s tradition of offering sanctuary to those fleeing hardship endures—even as the city grapples with the complexities and controversies of the current moment.
