A Conservative MP has spoken out against the government as Labour prepares to discuss reopening hotels to house asylum seekers. These hotels were meant to be closed under Labour’s earlier promises.
Speaking on GB News, Windsor MP Jack Rankin criticized Labour, saying they had failed to address the ongoing issue of asylum seekers.
He explained, “Labour promised they would fix this problem. But instead of solving it, we’ve seen the situation get worse. The Rwanda plan was supposed to discourage illegal crossings by removing the rewards for coming here. Now that plan seems to be on hold.”
Rankin went on to claim that Labour has opened 14 new asylum hotels in just six months, even though they promised to close them. He said this is causing problems across the country, with one-third of MPs dealing with these issues in their constituencies.
He highlighted the impact in his own area, saying, “In my constituency, there’s a small village called Datchet with just 4,000 residents. It’s a peaceful place with a traditional green, a pub, and a church. It’s only 1.5 miles from Windsor Castle, where the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales live. Now, asylum hotels are being placed in communities like mine, which means they’re popping up everywhere. This is affecting not just local communities but also services like the NHS.”
In response, a Home Office spokesperson defended the government’s efforts to manage the asylum system. They said, “We are determined to restore order to the asylum process so it works efficiently, fairly, and firmly. Since the last election, we’ve removed 16,400 people who had no legal right to stay in the UK.”
Meanwhile, Tim Naor Hilton, the head of Refugee Action, described the situation as a crisis. He said it’s affecting both the asylum seekers and the communities where they are being placed. “The real impact is on people stuck in limbo,” he explained.
Some are waiting months or even years for housing or are crammed into small hotel rooms. Local residents are also feeling the strain as this puts extra pressure on already stretched resources. This issue is affecting everyone involved.”
The debate over asylum hotels highlights the broader challenges of managing immigration and ensuring fairness for both asylum seekers and UK citizens.
