The private firm planning to evict asylum seekers and change locks has been told it has “picked on the wrong city”.

Evictions are planned in the coming months by Serco before they hand back properties when their contract to house asylum seekers ends.

Chris Stephens, Glasgow South West SNP MP, said that Glasgow has a history of fighting back and standing up to protect those at risk from eviction and he would join the protests to stop lock changes going ahead.

Read More: Council leader slams Home Office over evictions

He said: “The Home Office and Serco must know that they have picked the wrong city—the city of Mary Barbour and the rent strikes just over a century ago, the city of the great Glasgow girls who campaigned against child detention and ensured they got their school friend back.

“Thousands of volunteers have signed up to the living rent campaign, and they are on standby and ready to step in and prevent these evictions.

“The Government should be in no doubt that if Glaswegians are required to use their human rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly, to protect the basic human rights of others, that is what will be done, and I will join my fellow Glaswegians to prevent these evictions.”

Mr Stephens told the House of Commons of people in his constituency who had letters sent giving them days notice to leave.

He said many letters had been sent in error to people who cannot be classed as failed asylum seekers or whose claim has been rejected.

Read more: Serco quizzed on eviction tactics

He cited a list of people he had serious concerns for if they are forced out of their homes.

He told of Mariam, who fled abuse in Eritrea. He said she suffers depression and is on medication.

Ms Stephens said: “Do we leave people like Mariam on the streets, with their mental health going through the floor, to be a sitting target for traffickers or exploiters.”

He mentioned a 72-year-old Iraqi man who fled Syria. 

Mr Stephens said: “Serco sent him a lock-change eviction letter dated 19 June, telling him to leave by 2 July 2019. He has a serious heart condition, for which he has had a heart operation. He also has a problem with his spine and breathing problems, which leaves him bedridden most of each day. He is particularly vulnerable due to his age, his ill health and English not being his first language.”

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And he told of a 58-year-old woman who received a letter from Serco dated 21 June telling her that her entitlement to support ends on 23 June—less than two days’ notice.

He said: “If she leaves her accommodation, she will be destitute. Her section 4 application is under way, and her legal case is ongoing. This woman left Gambia to ensure that her daughters cannot be subject to female genital mutilation practices.”