Rural areas will be asked to house more asylum seekers, minister suggests

Robert Jenrick says accommodation being sought in much broader range of local authorities'

Rural areas will be asked to accept more people seeking asylum, a minister has suggested, as the government faced criticism from Conservative MPs for placing migrants in their constituencies.

Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, said small towns and the countryside may be asked to house more people crossing the Channel in small boats as long as numbers are so high".