This week, major reforms to the UK asylum system were announced by the Home Secretary, writes Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes.

These are reforms that will, at last, start to restore order, decency, and control to a process that has been failing communities like ours in Peterborough for too long.

No matter what, we must remember that immigration is always about real people and their lives. It is in the schools our children attend, the hospitals we rely on, and the vibrant spirit that makes our city special. I am proud of the hand of friendship we have extended to those fleeing danger in places like Ukraine and Afghanistan, and of the help we have given previous generations, like those expelled from Uganda. We are a compassionate city. There is much to value in the diversity Peterborough proudly offers. But there is, equally, a responsibility to ensure rules are clear, fair, and serve both our city’s needs and those seeking sanctuary.

That frustration is felt most keenly when it comes to illegal immigration. For too many years, places like Peterborough have been left doing more than our fair share. The Dragonfly Hotel stands as a visible symbol of the national asylum crisis, a solution that was imposed on Peterborough without proper consultation, stretching already overburdened local services and fuelling frustration among working families. Peterborough is generous, but it is time to fix this. As your MP, I have repeatedly called for the closure of the hotel and pressed the government to ensure our community’s voice is heard.

placeholder image — Andrew speaking in Parliament

The government’s new approach means fewer asylum hotels, stricter rules, and greater transparency at every stage. Already, Labour has shut down over two hundred hotels nationwide and remains committed to closing every remaining site, including the Dragonfly, within this Parliament. Decisions about where people are housed must be about dignity, fairness, and common sense, not just ticking the cheapest box. The Government is now seriously looking at alternative accommodation, such as army bases, while we get the backlog down and strengthen returns agreements with other countries.

Labour’s reforms will stop endless, last-minute appeals and focus on removing those with no right to be here. We need a deterrent to those illegally coming here whilst at the same time, new legal routes for those refugees fleeing danger. This is what I mean by a fair approach: help for those who need it, but alongside firm border controls, effective labour market protections, and an end to exploitation.

Peterborough’s churches, mosques, and community groups continue to show what real British generosity is. But people are right to be fed up with a broken system. My commitment is to keep pushing, inside Parliament and with ministers, to fix this crisis, and secure the closure of the Dragonfly Hotel.

Our asylum system must have the consent of the British people. Because only by working together can we build a system that is both welcoming and controlled, a Britain open to those fleeing danger, but focused on fairness for every resident.

If you have concerns or stories to share, do get in touch. My job is to be your voice, and together we will shape a system that works for Peterborough and Britain.