Conservatives at Elmbridge Council called for residents to be consulted before hotels in the borough are used to house migrants.
However our motion to the full council on Wednesday 1st October was voted down by Elmbridge's Liberal Democrat and Residents coalition, prompting angry scenes in the public gallery.
Conservative leader John Cope proposed the motion which called on the council's chief executive to write to the Home Secretary and request an "open consultation" before migrants are housed in local hotels.
Emergency use of hotels for migrants fell from 400 in September 2023 to 213 at the general election, and would have ended entirely if Labour had stuck to the last government's plan.
Cllr Cope noted that: "Britain is at its best when it is outward looking... but the last few years has put that under enormous tension. We cannot dismiss legitimate concerns from residents about immigration and the impact it has on their borough."
This follows an injunction by Conservative Epping Forest Council in Essex against use of a hotel that was initially successful but later appealed by the Labour government.
Liberal Democrats and Resident councillors, refused to support the Elmbridge motion or even allow a full discussion, using their majority to prematurely end the debate. They then voted down our motion.
Cllr Cope said it was "disappointing" to see Liberal Democrats and their allies stifling discussion and not letting all councillors speak.
You can watch the webcast here at 54 minutes.