In a shocking development that has surely rattled the teacups of the British establishment, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has suggested that wealthy areas of the UK should house more asylum seekers. Speaking to GB News on Tuesday, Burnham declared, "We cannot have a situation where it's only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers." This bombshell came in response to protests in the village of Piddington, Oxfordshire, over plans to accommodate asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. Because nothing says 'not in my backyard' quite like a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, ever the pragmatist, countered: "We shouldn't be housing illegal immigrants anywhere - wealthy or not." The Home Office, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with plans to use more military bases, having announced in June that it would open three more, including the site in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The locals of Piddington are thrilled, obviously, and have voted to stage a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK. Because that's worked out so well for everyone before.

Burnham, who after winning the Makerfield by-election in June promised to end 'HMO Britain' and change the asylum accommodation system, said he would look into the issues raised by the 'good people of Piddington.' He also noted, "I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part." This from the man who, as mayor of Greater Manchester in 2018, threatened to block the region from housing any more asylum seekers, complaining about 'disproportionate' numbers and public services buckling under the strain. Ah, the sweet smell of political evolution.

Last week, anti-immigration demonstrations erupted in Thetford, Norfolk, with protesters attempting to enter homes where they believed asylum seekers were living. In response to Burnham's interview, Philp reiterated the Conservative policy of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights to deport migrants to their country of origin or a safe third country like Rwanda. "Andy Burnham just doesn't get it," he wrote on X. "Illegal immigrants should all be deported within a week of arrival." Because that's simple, right?

Government statistics show there were 97,519 people in receipt of asylum support at the end of March, with 20,885 in hotel accommodation. Another 72,768 were in 'dispersal accommodation' (i.e., houses in the community), and 3,866 were on subsistence support only. The north-west of England leads the pack with 19,578 supported asylum seekers, followed by London (13,687), the West Midlands (11,969), and Yorkshire and the Humber (8,635). The north-east and north-west have the highest proportions, with 26 and 25 supported people per 10,000 residents, respectively. Glasgow city (3,870), Birmingham (2,142), Liverpool (2,053), Coventry (1,712), and Belfast (1,607) top the local authority charts. So, yes, it's not exactly a balanced spread, is it?

Burnham's newfound enthusiasm for fairness might be a refreshing change, but it's hard not to notice that the wealthy areas he's now calling on to step up are not exactly volunteering. Perhaps they're waiting for a symbolic referendum of their own.