The number of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels has increased by 8% within a year, presenting a challenge for officials to address the aftermath of the previous government’s actions. Data from the Home Office indicates that at the end of the first year of the current administration, 32,059 migrants were temporarily housed in UK hotels. This figure is slightly lower than the count of 32,345 three months prior but notably higher compared to 29,585 individuals housed at the same period a year ago.
The latest statistics show a 43% reduction from the peak under Rishi Sunak’s tenure, with the asylum applications backlog dropping below 100,000 for the first time in four years. Currently, the backlog stands at approximately 70,000 cases involving nearly 91,000 individuals, marking an 18% decline from the previous year and reaching its lowest level since September 2021.
While the overall number of asylum applications has surged to a record high of 111,000, marking a 14% increase, less than 40% of these applicants arrived via small boats. Pressure is mounting on Keir Starmer to phase out the use of hotels, a promise he made to fulfill by the conclusion of the current parliamentary term. Legal challenges are looming as a High Court judge issued an injunction mandating the relocation of migrants from the Bell Hotel in Epping, with similar challenges anticipated from councils, including those led by Labour.
Education minister Catherine McKinnell acknowledged the challenges inherited from the previous administration regarding the immigration system and asylum claim processing, emphasizing the need to address the massive backlog. Efforts to reduce the reliance on hotels for asylum accommodation are underway, with a commitment to end this practice by the end of the parliamentary term. While progress has been made in processing asylum claims, the government is striving to expedite the process further and address the unacceptable backlogs.
Ministers are striving to prevent the recurrence of confrontations outside asylum hotels nationwide, following recent clashes in Epping. Concerns persist over the future of individuals currently residing in these locations, with uncertainties surrounding their next steps. Efforts to engage in peaceful protests outside asylum hotels have sparked debates, with calls for a more constructive approach to addressing the accommodation challenges.
Kemi Badenoch has faced criticism for her response to the asylum hotel situation, with accusations of desperation and hypocrisy in her handling of the issue. The Tory leader’s call for Conservative-controlled councils to challenge the use of hotels has been met with skepticism, labeled as a political maneuver by the opposition. Labour asserts a significant reduction in asylum seekers accommodated in hotels compared to the peak under the previous administration.
