Priti Patel criticizes government's secrecy on asylum housing plan in Wethersfield

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has accused the UK government of being "secretive" about its plans to house asylum seekers at the Wethersfield ex-RAF base in Essex for up to five years. The Home Office claims that military sites offer cheaper and more orderly accommodation than hotels, but the plans have faced criticism from charities and the local council. Patel has called for clarity on the timeframe for using the site and urged the government to be transparent. The government aims to move away from using expensive hotels to house asylum seekers and is exploring alternatives such as barges and former military bases.