A SENIOR Hampshire politician has been likened to Adolf Hitler during a row over the number of asylum seekers in Southampton.

Tory city councillor Alec Samuels was compared to the Nazi leader by the local authority's executive member for social policy, councillor Jacqui Rayment.

During a stormy debate on the future handling of asylum seekers in the city, Mrs Rayment said: "Are you related to Hitler, councillor Samuels"

Mrs Rayment later withdrew the remark.

Councillor Peter Jenks, executive member for corporate management, added: "I can only conclude that Councillor Samuels is either a liar or a fool."

Members of the city council's corporate committee were debating changes in the practice of dealing with asylum seekers.

The city council has to find accommodation for asylum seekers as part of its responsibility under government guidelines. The local authority receives a grant for those in its care.

The committee heard Southampton wanted to set up a separate contract with the Home Office to control the numbers of asylum seekers in the city.

As its share, the committee agreed to up its number to 250 single asylum seekers and 250 families. Currently, there are 420 single asylum seekers or families in Southampton.

Earlier in the debate Mr Samuels told the committee: "As far as this city is concerned we have a number of people with housing difficulties. There is considerable pressure on all the health services and considerable pressure on social services. There is pressure on education particularly in secondary schools and I regret to say some anxiety in the criminal justice system."

He added: "It's difficult enough for citizens of this city to find accommodation."

Mrs Rayment added: "We do need to be in charge of our own destiny and we do need to make sure asylum seekers are housed, clothed and given the opportunity to live while they are waiting their decision.

"I just really want to reiterate the point. We don't have any asylum seekers in local authority accommodation."

Councillor Paul Jenks, executive member for housing and community regeneration, launched an attack on Mr Samuels' political party.

Noting that no far-right party has ever succeeded in Britain, he said: "All the time, the Conservative Party offers a home to intolerance and racists."

But Conservative councillor John Hannides said: "As a political group we have an entitlement to put forward legitimate views.

"The Conservative Party has a national policy that is people seeking asylum can be housed within reception centres."

Outside the meeting, Mr Samuels told the Daily Echo: "I didn't make any personal remarks at all.

"In my view personal abuse reflects on the abuser not the abused.

"I'm interested in the substance of

the matter rather than any personal matter which came up and shouldn't have done."

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