More Afghan refugees fleeing their country following the takeover by the Taliban should be taken in by Medway, according to the council's opposition leader.

But in a furious response, the leader of Medway Council, Alan Jarrett, said he has been left "astounded" – saying it would see local families on the authority's housing list being given lower priority.

Cllr Maple urged Medway Council to find additional space to take in more than the two Afghan families under the current plans.

In a letter to the authority's Conservative leader, Cllr Maple says he feels because of the size of Medway it should be looking to house more people fleeing the new regime in Afghanistan.

He said it was a "critical issue" which needed to be addressed following the "shocking situation" people have been left in following the collapse of the Afghan government.

Cllr Maple wrote: "I have had a number of Medway residents contact me asking how many families Medway are offering refuge to. I understand that currently that figure is two families.

"As a unitary authority, I believe that we should be offering support to more than two of these families - many of whom have supported our armed forces throughout the last two decades in roles such as interpreters.

"I hope that the council will urgently reflect and increase the level of support, not least recognising Medway’s long-standing links to the armed forces which many of these Afghan families have supported."

Cllr Maple has called on the council to increase communication with residents who may be able to support Afghan people arriving in Britain and help put them up.

In response Cllr Jarrett said: "Suggesting we deprioritise Medway residents currently on our housing waiting list – 1,624 of them – who have been waiting a long time for housing, in favour of taking in dozens of Afghan families is for me unacceptable.

"Medway Council has done its bit in responding to this crisis.

"Currently only about one third of the 354 Councils in England have agreed to support and resettle Afghan refugees is not good enough and for you to suggest that Medway takes up the slack is preposterous.

"These families have stood by our sides and helped us in Afghanistan when we needed the support and we have sympathy and compassion for them as much as the next authority, so to suggest we aren’t supporting this effort is plainly wrong."

"Suggesting we deprioritise Medway residents currently on our housing waiting list is unacceptable..." - Cllr Alan Jarrett

He accused Cllr Maple of "political opportunism" in making the comments "for which you should be ashamed", said Cllr Jarrett.

Addressing points about encouraging Medway residents who could help support families, Cllr Jarrett added: "I’m pleased to say that the response from Medway residents in this regard has been fantastic.

"We need to work with the families to understand what it is they actually need, so that we do not overwhelm them, and in this respect we will liaise with the groups offering support appropriately.

"I struggle to understand your apparent point of view that Medway residents are not as important as Afghan families. We are Medway Council and we represent the needs of Medway.

"Where we can support others we will, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of supporting local residents who need us to help them."

The UK government has pledged to support 20,000 Afghan refugees in the next five years with as many as 5,000 arriving in the first 12 months.

Priority will be given to women and girls, and religious and other minorities, who are most at risk of human rights abuses and dehumanising treatment.

Speaking previously about the plans for Medway, deputy leader Cllr Howard Doe said he was pleased preparations were under way to welcome two families in Medway.

He added: "We are currently working with partners to ensure that when they arrive they are supported to live as members of our community.”

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch (Con) said the country "absolutely should" be taking in refugees.

She added: "I share the views of council leaders across the county about our obligation to offer housing and support to those who have been displaced in the crisis.

"From the volume of emails I have had from settled Afghans in my constituency seeking help for their families it is clear that a number of people from Afghanistan have, over many decades, been welcomed into the towns and I am sure others would be in the future too.

"I am in no doubt that the leader of the council is looking to see what can be done to support refugees but local residents can also play their personal part too and join the growing number of people across the UK who have been in touch with various charities and offered spare rooms in their own properties to either individuals or families seeking support."

In Kent, district and borough councils will be responsible for finding homes for refugees and Kent County Council will look after unaccompanied children.

Medway as a unitary authority will oversee resettling families in the Towns.

Ashford council leader Gerry Clarkson said it was a "moral obligation" to take in families adding he "didn't give a damn" if people disagreed.

The borough, which was the first in Kent to confirm its plans, will house 10 families a year and three have already been housed, the council said.

All the other districts and boroughs in Kent have confirmed plans to be involved in the programme led by the Home Office.

Medway Council has been approached to respond to Cllr Maple's comments.

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