Angela Rayner 'betrays people of Piddington' and approves illegal migrant camp

Angela Rayner has approved plans to house more than 1,200 illegal migrants at MoD Bicester as she was accused of "betraying" the people of Piddington.

The small Oxfordshire village home to just 350 people has been relentlessly fighting back against attempts to house migrants near their community.

But the Housing Secretary has today used emergency powers at her disposal to grant planning permission for the site.

Thea approval means the Home Office will now be allowed to progress the proposal, subject to other assessments and consents.

Sources inside the department have "welcomed" Ms Rayner's decision, insisting the site will pave the way for a "fairer distribution of asylum seekers", the Express reports.

Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, has shared a letter he received confirming the move.

It read: "I am writing to inform you that today the Secretary of State has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the Home Office’s application described above."

The Tory frontbencher took to social media to voice his fury over the decision, branding it a "disaster".

He wrote: "This is totally outrageous and proves this Government don’t give two hoots about us here in Bucks."

Mr Smith vowed to "keep working to get this overturned".

More to follow...