English teacher compared to Nazi collaborator for helping asylum seekers at Wethersfield camp

A former teacher has been compared to a Second World War Nazi collaborator for teaching English to asylum seekers. A Reform councillor also claimed the retired teacher had "facilitated an invasion" and "facilitated their being able to rape and and sexually abuse, women and children." Mair Godley used to teach English at the asylum seekers camp at Wethersfield, near Braintree in Essex. She says that at a recent district council meeting, she was targeted by the Reform UK councillor Carl Johnson, who compared her to a Second World War Nazi collaborator.

Reform UK said Cllr Johnson is entitled to his own personal views Credit: Facebook The 78-year-old said: "I used to teach English there, and he launched into a verbal attack on me saying that I had facilitated the invasion of these people by helping them. "And having arrived here, I had facilitated their being able to rape and and sexually abuse, women and children. "[I felt] Sick, angry, shaky - because his whole demeanour changed. They're not doing it for a holiday, that they're running away.

A lot of these people have been subjected to dreadful, dreadful experiences. And they want a better life. I never felt fear, ever." Hundreds turn out for anti-asylum centre march in town centre Charity takes legal action over 'prison-like' asylum accommodation Mair's husband, Nick Godley, is a former chair of Wethersfield parish council. He said: "I don't think Councillor Johnson is a fit person to be a member of the council. "And I very much doubt whether the Reform Council authorities will call into account because I think he's toeing the party line.

"I think all the things he says about invasions and so on are, frankly, official Reform policy. I think they're part of the script." A spokesperson from Reform UK said the party is committed to net-negative migration and will prioritise the needs of the British people. Cllr Johnson is entitled to his own personal views. Cllr Johnson has been approached for comment. Essex County Council has hired security guards to patrol areas of Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford , visited by asylum seekers.

Security guards deployed by Essex County Council patrol in Braintree town centre Credit: PA Images The Home Office has submitted an application to extend the use of the former airbase past April 2027, when its current permission expires and seeks to increase the number of asylum seekers housed here from 800 to 1,200. The Home Office insists military sites like this are vital to ending the costly use of asylum hotels, and that around-the-clock security keeps local impact to a minimum.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...