Glasgow is looking to scrap the acceptance of asylum seekers as the burden on taxpayers is set to surge by at least three times in just three years.
The cost to taxpayers of dealing with refugees is set to surge in the Scottish city, which has become the number one UK hotspot for acceptance of asylum seekers.
Refugee households seeking asylum have skyrocketed due to the fact that it is easier by law to get homelessness assistance in Scotland.
Figures from the Home Office put Glasgow as the Scottish local authority with the most housed asylum seekers with over 4,193, or around 67 per 10,000 residents.
Demonstrators, with a pet dog, sitting on Buchanan Street steps in Glasgow,
PA
Across the entire UK, there are typically just 16 asylum seekers per 10,000 of the population.
The stats suggest refugees make up around 41 per cent of Glasgow homelessness applications, which entitles them to makeshift emergency accommodation.
The number of homelessness applications in Glasgow that have been granted refugee status or leave to remain in the country has doubled in a year, from 1,384 in 2022/23 to 2,709 in 2023/24.
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An anti-racism protest taking place in Glasgow city centre
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One refugee rights worker told the Herald: "If Glasgow stopped taking asylum seekers I think it would send the system into meltdown.
"It is clear that the Home Office has been over-reliant on Glasgow and it is only fair that the city gets the financial support it needs for its great work in welcoming asylum seekers."
Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Highland, Midlothian, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Orkney and Shetland do not currently take in any asylum seekers.
The refugee council has told ministers in a review: "Glasgow City Council requires urgent engagement with the Home Office to discuss financial assistance."
A UK Government spokesman told The Herald: "Despite inheriting huge pressures on the asylum system, we are working to make sure individuals have the support they need following an asylum decision to help local authorities better plan their assistance with homelessness.
"We are working right across the UK to give councils as much notice as possible of newly recognised refugees, have doubled the move on period to 56 days and have mobilised liaison officers to support asylum seekers in Glasgow City Council area.
"There is a clear need for a smooth transition between asylum accommodation and other accommodation for asylum seekers granted leave to remain, which is why we are working to identify and implement efficiencies to support this process and mitigate the risk of homelessness.
"Support for newly-recognised refugees is available through Migrant Help and their partners, which includes advice on how to access Universal Credit, the labour market and where to get assistance with housing."
