Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Statement following my meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP
Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, has welcomed the news that following her meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard and the Head of Cadets at MoD, where she urged them both to communicate with the Crowborough Cadets leadership, volunteers and parents, the MoD & Sussex Army Cadet Force have now issued the below correspondence, clarifying the future use of the Training Camp.
The letter confirms that the Cadets will not be accessing the site from Friday 5th November.
It was confirmed at Nusrat's meeting with the Minister on 1st December that an alternative site would be found for the Cadets to operate from and continue their activities.
Nusrat Ghani said: "I’m pleased to have also secured progress for our Crowborough Cadets. During my meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP and five of his Cadet Advisers, it was confirmed that Crowborough Cadets will not be accessing the site from next week, and a new site will be secured for them. Previously, the Home Office had suggested that the Cadets could continue operating from the site after it would accommodate 600 male asylum seekers. I raised strong objections to any such idea and insisted on alternative arrangements being made urgently."
The letter in full:
Monday 1st December 2025
Statement following my meeting with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP
Delayed! After 50 days of persistent forensic questioning and campaigning against the Home Office and Wealden District Council, we have secured a much-needed delay on the site being operational. Our technical challenges on the site being safe, legal and compliant, have disrupted the arrival of Asylum Seekers as planned for the end of November.
I’m pleased to have also secured progress for our Crowborough Cadets. During my meeting this afternoon with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP and five of his Cadet Advisers, it was confirmed that Crowborough Cadets will not be accessing the site from next week, and a new site will be secured for them. Previously, the Home Office had suggested that the Cadets could continue operating from the site after it would accommodate 600 male asylum seekers. I raised strong objections to any such idea and insisted on alternative arrangements being made urgently.
Attending the meeting were local representatives from Pink Ladies, Jeannette Towey; Crowborough Shield, Kim Bailey; and Cllr Michael Lunn. We all raised objections to the Training Camp being handed to asylum seekers and removed as a training key asset for the Cadets and other multiple youth clubs. Concerns were raised over the security of the site and the lack of confidence in both the Home Office and Wealden District Council in undertaking their duties in ensuring the site is safe, legal and compliant. I’m thankful to Kim, Jeanette and Michael for making the journey up to Parliament at such short notice.
This is progress, and a small win for every Crowborough resident who has joined me via my petition and in directly challenging the Home Office and Wealden District Council with emails and letters. It is obvious that plans began to unravel for the Home Office when they were challenged by me and our 500 strong local residents at my first public meeting on 10th November, when basic questions were raised over the site safety, Crowborough Cadets, and lack of consultation.
The Home Office's plans have only been disrupted by the difficult and uncomfortable challenges we have raised. They were not expecting us to be co-ordinated, across the detail and determined to hold them to account. They no doubt had been having an easier ride with the Liberal Democrat and Green Party Leadership of Wealden District Council.
We should accept this as a win for now, however we cannot be complacent and we need to double down on raising technical challenges over planning - which is the basic job of Wealden District Council as the planning authority.
The Home Office are now implying that the site will be operational by the end of the year. They will be informing their lead local partner, Wealden District Council, when they are ready. It is so sad that Wealden District Council have declined to meet the three local MPs or join their fight on behalf of local residents.
I've come under huge personal criticism from Wealden District Council and Crowborough Councillors for being outspoken. But as my constituents know, I will not be deterred and will continue to do my job as the local MP, and champion local residents. I will continue to interrogate the Home Office on how they can evidence that the site is safe, legal and compliant. I will continue pushing Wealden District Council into legally challenging the Home Office's decision and plans, which are no doubt in conflict with local planning.
I've made my meetings open to local community representatives as l have nothing to hide, unlike Wealden District Council who meet with the Home Office privately. I accept that this is a job for the Council leadership, but it has been over 50 days since they were first made aware of the Home Office's plans, and they have not shown any evidence to meet with the right people and ask the right questions.
The pressure that the community and I keep putting on the Home Office is working and we cannot take out foot off the pedal. We have to keep going and demand transparency, accountability and honesty. Please continue signing my petition at: nusghani.org.uk/NoAsylumHousing.
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Statement following my meeting with Home Office Minister Alex Norris MP
Thursday 13th November 2025
Update after Wealden District Council and Crowborough Town Council's public meeting
I attended the public meeting organised by Wealden District Council on Thursday 13th November. You can read some of my thoughts below or watch my youtube update here.
Nusrat Ghani said: "Tonight’s Town Council and WDC meeting with the Home Office was chaotic, and once again the Home Office are charging ahead as we continue to see zero leadership from Wealden District Council. On Monday, Cllr Rachel Millward and Cllr James Partridge said they would take legal action and tonight they were silent. Not a single piece of legal action has been raised. They are wasting our time as we wait for them to use their legal powers as the Planning Authority who will get money for every Asylum Seeker accommodated. Take a look at my letter to the WDC leadership, detailing the steps they can take here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17HwoZ7vG7/?mibextid=wwXIfr."
Monday 10th November 2025
Public Meeting
Following pressure from myself and local residents, Wealden District Council leaders have confirmed they will take legal action against the Home Office's proposal to use Crowborough Training Camp to house asylum seekers.
I held two large community meetings on Monday 10th November, with over 500 residents attending to hear directly from Home Office officials and Wealden District Council. During the event, I forensically questioned the officials on several key issues regarding the safety, legality and compliance of using a site that was previously rejected. The Home Office confirmed that the Council, as the lead planning authority and recipient of money for every asylum seeker accommodated at Crowborough, has the power to legally challenge the decision before, during and after asylum seekers arriving. Officials also stated that the site can only open once it is deemed safe, legal, and compliant, but they could not provide evidence of how these criteria would be met.
At the meeting, I presented evidence showcasing how other Councils used their planning legal powers to challenge the Home Office. Present at the meeting was the leadership Cllr Rachel Millward and Cllr James Partridge, who were urged to use legal challenges to address the potential impact on planning, environment, healthcare and the Crowborough Cadets.
After mine and the community pressure, the Council’s leadership changed its initial position of "nothing could be done" to “we will take legal action” and promised to explore all legal options and to keep the community updated. I praised the residents for their calm engagement and affirmed that I will continue to work with the Council to support legal action, but not with the Council’s present chaotic position of supporting the Home Office in housing asylum seekers at Crowborough Training Camp.
After the meeting, Nusrat Ghani: “Crowborough residents did us proud, raising legitimate concerns over Wealden District Council’s and the Home Office’s lack of transparency of what is planned for Crowborough. Due to my persistent pressure, the Home Office attended their first public meeting, but left us asking more worrying questions, which should have been raised by Councillors at a much earlier stage. At the meeting, Cllr Tysh, Cllr Millward and Cllr Partridge said they couldn’t do anything. After I gave examples of other Councils taking legal action and after the Home Office confirmed that they could take legal action, the Cllrs then publicly changed their position to claiming that they now “will take legal action”. I look forward to seeing evidence of what legal action and legal advice will be implemented. There is no time to waste, and every Cllr now needs to be across the detail and standing up for Crowborough. I urge local residents to hold their Councillors’ feet to the fire to make sure they stay true to the promise they made to residents at my meeting on Monday.”
Monday 10th November 2025
Public Meeting
Due to the absence of Wealden District Council and lack of public consultation regarding the proposals for Crowborough Training Camp, Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald has secured the presence of Home Office officials at the first community meeting in Crowborough taking place this evening (Monday 10th November).
As a result of the lack of transparency and accountability from Wealden District Council, Nusrat has put pressure on the Home Office to be present at the first official community meeting. Two of the leading Home Office officials will be present to share what has been agreed with Wealden District Council and if the Council have raised any legal challenges.
Nusrat has been talking to councils across the country who have fought legal challenges with the Home Office and at tonight’s meeting, she will be sharing that intelligence with local residents, so that they can put pressure on their District Councillors to prevent or delay asylum seekers being housed in Crowborough.
Also joining the meeting will be neighbouring MP Mims Davies, Crowborough Town Mayor Cllr Natalie Whittle and the most recent previous Home Office Minister for Immigration, who can share why the site was rejected before and what legal steps Wealden District Council can take to stand up for local residents and object to the decision, if they wanted to.
The meeting is fully booked, so if you were unable to secure a space and want to receive an update, please sign Nusrat’s petition here: https://www.nusghani.org.uk/NoAsylumHousing.
Nusrat Ghani said: “It has been a full month since Wealden District Council have been in negotiations with the Home Office and we are yet to understand what their plans are. As the local planning authority, only WDC have the power to put in place legal objections such as a JR, a Stop Notice or a Letter Before Action. It is shocking that the WDC leadership have not evidenced any legal action that they will be taking. The only explanation as to why WDC have not yet taken any legal action is political, given that the Leadership represents their political views. Chaos continues at the Council, and they are just failing us as time runs out. I am grateful for local support, and I’m pleased that at the back of me putting pressure on the council, they are now holding a public meeting later this week. While they were missing in action, I stepped in to convene tonight’s meeting to get answers from the Home Office and advice from former Ministers. WDC leaders and Crowborough councillors are most welcome to join me this evening, and I look forward to them sharing their views to Crowborough residents. I will continue to do what I can to put pressure on Wealden District Council to fight, not to work with, the Home Office, on behalf of the Crowborough community.”
Tuesday 28th October 2025
My first statement once the news broke regarding the planned use for the camp
Like many Sussex Weald residents, I am furious to read from the media that this Labour Government's Home Office and Ministry of Defence have been in private conversations with the Green Party & Liberal Democrat Leadership at Wealden District Council to potentially use the Crowborough Training Camp to house asylum seekers in the near future.
I am yet to receive a formal notification that the news stories breaking this morning are accurate.
However, for the record, under the previous Conservative Government, the Crowborough site was rejected outright. This was due to its layout and the difficulty in it being adapted and the extra costs that would be involved. Furthermore, modifying the site would put it in conflict with the local Council’s Crowborough National Landscape and planning policy.
If the story is true and Crowborough is being assessed as a potential site, I will be seeking urgent answers form the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence and the Leadership at Wealden District Council to understand why they excluded Crowborough residents and locally elected representatives in their conversations to date.
Along with local residents, we need to understand what conversations took place with Wealden District Council and when, and if the story is true, what plans are in process.
I also read in the papers that some sort of consultation will be taking place. I will be seeking clarity on under what guise the consultation will take place and who will be leading it.
Having received a huge amount of correspondence on the matter from residents, I recognise the strength of the feeling locally and I will offer Sussex Weald residents an update as soon as I have it.
The Crowborough Training Camp has already been rejected as being wholly inappropriate.
If you think Crowborough deserves better, please sign my petition.