Burnley row over Reform UK 'illegal migrant housing' claim

The argument is over whether a property with lapsed approval to become assisted living flats could be turned into a house of multiple occupation (HMO), or "illegal migrant housing".

It erupted on Facebook after a small fire in the backyard of the building on the corner of Claremont Street and Tabor Street in Gannow, Burnley, was discovered at 7.50pm on Tuesday evening.

The town’s Labour MP Oliver Ryan took to Facebook to accuse Liam Thomson, elected in May to Lancashire County Council for Burnley Central West division, of ‘whipping up of misinformation’ and  ‘endangering people’.

He said Reform UK was fuelling ‘a rise in racism and racist rhetoric of a kind not seen this century’.

The MP's Facebook video was illustrated with two clips from a video posted on Facebook by Cllr Thomson in which he says: “Gannow, the HMO. The proposed HMO” and “We need to stand together, we’re fighting against central government here.”

The Reform politician has bit back on the site, saying of Mr Ryan: “Twists my video and turns off his comments - Labour in a nutshell.

“Free speech? Never heard of it. Cropping my video to make it look like I said something I didn’t.”

The dispute comes against the background of a national row over the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers, which is not a new practice.

It follows a High Court judge granting Epping Forest District Council permission to stop migrants from being housed at The Bell Hotel in the Essex town.

In a separate post on his Facebook page, Cllr Thomson claims he visited three hotels in Burnley rumoured to be housing asylum seekers and could confirm that none were doing so.

Official figures show that none of East Lancashire’s six boroughs currently have any hotels used for asylum seekers.

The building in Gannow was granted planning permission in January 2020 for conversion into 18 assisted living apartments, which has now expired.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the cause of the fire at the property.

Mr Ryan confirms in his Facebook video there are 188 rented properties which currently house asylum seekers in his Burnley constituency.

In his post at 9.30pm on Tuesday, which started the row, Cllr Thomson says: “There’s two things I want to talk to you about.

“So obviously Gannow. The proposed HMO – does it have planning permission or not?

“I spoke to the council and they think it doesn’t have planning permission, but there’s work going on.

“The town of Burnley is having its soul ripped out by HMOs. We need to stand as a community and stop any more HMOs or illegal migrant housing.

“Up until May, I was just a concerned citizen.

“I’ve stood for Reform to stop migrants in Burnley – to stop what is going on.

“We’ve heard of two cases where children are being assaulted.

“We need to stand together, we’re fighting against central government here.”

Mr Ryan said in his video posted on Wednesday: “Last night, a building in Gannow, 100 metres from Whittlefield Primary, was set on fire after online speculation.

"A Reform councillor said it was being converted into an HMO site, implying completely falsely that this was being used for illegal migrants.

“It isn’t even applying to be an HMO, but supported social housing.

“I want to be clear, despite Reform councillors praying for one and whipping up as much as they can, we don’t have any asylum hotels in the Burnley constituency.

“What we do have, however, quite shamefully, is families and individuals being attacked in our area because of the colour of their skin.

“In Britain, in Burnley in 2025, we’ve seen a rise in racism and racist rhetoric of a kind not seen this century.

“We all want to stop the boats – me included. We all want to stop illegal migration.

“The whipping up of misinformation is endangering people. It’s wrong and it’s got to stop.”

One comment on Cllr Thomson’s Facebook page says of the Gannow property: “Isn’t it up in flames? Looks like it’s a HMO barbecue right now.”

Cllr Thomson replied: “I believe so. But I don’t condone this at all.

“An action like this is putting people’s lives at risk. We need to fight this smart and be relentless!”