Council of sanctuary motion revoked in Weston-super-Mare
Councillors have this week voted to rescind the motion after major backlash spearheaded by the local branch of Reform UK
Last updated 24th Sep 2025
Weston-super-Mare has abandoned its bid to be recognised as a “council of sanctuary.”
The town council voted in March to begin the process of making the seaside town a “council of sanctuary,” joining a network to help community groups supporting refugees and asylum seekers with their work. But on September 22, councillors voted to rescind that motion after major backlash spearheaded by the local branch of Reform UK.
The party claimed the move could “prioritise additional immigration into Weston-super-Mare.” The “council of sanctuary” motion would not affect immigration or the siting of asylum seekers as this is not a parish level policy, but a protest against the plans was held at the meeting in March. After a town council-run survey, a council task and finish group later recommended that the council scrap the plan at its next meeting on September 22.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor James Clayton (Bournville, Labour) said that becoming a “council of sanctuary” was unnecessary and could replace real goodwill with “box ticking and bureaucracy.” He told the meeting: “Weston is already a welcoming place. We are proud of our history, our traditions, and our people.
“Time and again our community has shown generosity to those in need, whether it is through our churches, charities, voluntary groups, or individual acts of kindness. Weston has always opened its doors for those in need who come here. We don’t need a badge or a label from an outside group to prove that.”
But this sentiment — echoed by other councillors opposed to the scheme — stood in stark contrast to the protest outside the town hall, where there were chants of “send them home.” At least 100 people turned up to show their opposition to the “council of sanctuary” motion, with many carrying Union Jacks, England flags, and one Somerset flag. A small group of counter protestors also attended to show their support for Weston-super-Mare being a “council of sanctuary.”
Addressing the council meeting as a member of the public, supporter of the motion Alison Bancroft said the council needed to acknowledge the “wider context” of the debate. She said: “Tonight is not just about this motion, it’s about where we stand in the midst of escalating rhetoric around asylum seekers, refugees, and indeed all migrants.”
She said: “Council of sanctuary is — as it has always been — simply a statement of principle about where we stand and where we are prepared to make a stand in defence of our own principles and beliefs. The message delivered to our community tonight will have far reaching effects and I ask councillors to vote against tonight’s motion to revoke.”
Councillors voted 16-9 to rescind their previous resolution to become a council of sanctuary, in a vote which was not whipped along party lines. Caroline Reynolds (Central, Liberal Democrat), the council’s anti-racism champion and the councillor who proposed becoming a “council of sanctuary” in March, said after the meeting, she said: “I am very disappointed.”
She added: “I don’t really understand the opposition to the council of sanctuary. … Obviously whatever’s happened tonight won’t stop my working with the organisations to achieve that work for people who are fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries.”
The meeting heard that two petitions with a similar number of petitions had been received by the council, both for and against being a “council of sanctuary.” 426 people in Weston-super-Mare responded to the town council-run survey over the plans in July, with 323 to opposed to being a “council of sanctuary” to various degrees, and 103 people to various degrees in favour. The only financial cost associated with being a “council of sanctuary” is a £150 fee every three years.
In the council debate, John Crockford-Hawley (Hillside, Liberal Democrat) accepted that mistakes were made about how the proposal was communicated in March but warned that some people on social media had “no interest in truth” and were sharing “hair-raising lies” about certain religions. He said: “Beware, my friends, the 1930s.”
Labour councillor Owen James (South Worle) borrowed a phrase from Donald Trump in his speech in favour of rescinding the motion, telling the chamber: “We will make Weston-super-Mare great again!” He was met with applause from the public gallery and groans from some other Labour councillors.