Reform UK claim Finney House to be used for asylum seekers branded ‘completely unfounded and misleading speculation’ by health chiefs

A claim from a Reform UK candidate that a closing care facility in Preston could be used to house asylum seekers is ‘completely unfounded and misleading speculation’, Blog Preston has been told.

Luke Parker, who is Reform UK’s candidate for Preston East at the upcoming Lancashire County Council elections, posted to Facebook yesterday (18 April) that he had ‘unconfirmed reports’ the closing Finney House ‘may soon be repurposed to house asylum seekers’ adding that it raised serious questions.

One of those questions was “why is Preston always first in line, yet last to be informed’. He did not make clear who had provided him with the information, but a Guardian report in December 2024 did state that student accommodation and disused care facilities could be used as a way to save money on hotel bills for asylum seekers.

But Blog Preston has learned from senior sources at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, who operate the site, that the idea is ‘completely unfounded and misleading speculation’. They added that the terms of their lease are very strict.

There are no plans for the site to be used to home asylum seekers, they said.

Finney House was a facility on Flintoff Way being used to free-up beds at Royal Preston Hospital and double up as a care home as needed with hotel-style accommodation. Its phased closure was announced last month with 28 residents who call it their permanent home having to find new accommodation by the time the site closes in June.

John Potter, who is the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Preston West and leader of the party at Preston City Council, told Blog Preston: “I have yet to see any credible evidence from Reform for their claims, and to attempt to use scaremongering tactics to garner votes is not acceptable behaviour for any aspiring councillor.”

Parker had previously been scalded over his campaigning tactics after his campaign materials was fly-posted on Moor Park.

Preston City Council oversees conduct locally in the election campaign, despite it being a Lancashire County Council election, and spoke with Reform UK after the issue was brought to light.

Reform UK Preston chairman Scott Pye said that he and Parker spoke with their activists and told them that the activity is not allowed and should not continue.

Both the Moor Park fly-posting and the Finney House social post focus on places in the Preston Central East division for the Lancashire County Council elections. Parker is standing to be a county councillor for the nearby Preston East division.

Defending the social media post, Parker told Blog Preston he was trying to ‘raise awareness’ and ‘promote transparency’. He claimed he wasn’t trying to spread fear or misinformation – saying while Lancashire Teaching Hospitals had released a comment they leased the site at present leaving any future use unclear.

He said: “If migrants don’t end up being placed at Finney House, that’s a good outcome, but it will be because local people were alert, engaged, and vocal.”

Other candidates standing in the Preston East seat as part of the local elections are: Edward Craven (Lib Dem), Geoffrey Fielden (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition), Anna Hindle (Labour), John Ross (Green) and Keith Sedgewick (Conservative). The local election for Lancashire County Council takes place on Thursday 1 May, see all the candidates standing across Preston and South Ribble.

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