Illegal Migrant hotels set to be used for four more years as Labour pushes back deadline again Because Of This

Hotels will continue to be used to house asylum seekers for up to four more years, according to the Home Office’s top civil servant, Sir Matthew Rycroft. He told MPs that the government’s main goal is to stop using hotels by the end of the current Parliament, which must happen by August 2029 at the latest.

This contradicts Labour’s pre-election promise to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers within 12 months by hiring 1,000 caseworkers to clear the backlog of applications.

Labour’s manifesto did not set a specific deadline but stated they would “end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds.” Since taking office, Labour ministers have admitted it “will take time” and pledged to end the use of hotels “as soon as possible.”

Under the Conservatives, the number of hotels housing asylum seekers peaked at 400 in autumn 2023, accommodating around 56,000 people at a cost of £3 billion to taxpayers. By the time of the election in July 2023, this had fallen to 213 hotels, but it rose again to 220 by October 2023, housing about 35,000 people. Last month, Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said nine hotels were scheduled to close by the end of March, despite a net increase of six hotels.

Labour has increased the number of asylum applications being processed fivefold since the election, reaching around 10,000 a month. However, this progress has been offset by the arrival of over 25,000 migrants crossing the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.

Sir Matthew said the government has abandoned the previous policy of using large sites like the Bibby barge and former military bases. Instead, they are focusing on smaller sites, including properties bought by the Home Office and private rentals. He emphasized that while the goal is to reduce the number of hotels, the process may involve fluctuations, as the government is legally required to provide accommodation and hotels are sometimes the only option.

Government sources said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been working on a “sustainable and permanent exit from asylum hotels” since taking office. However, they blamed the Conservatives for leaving the asylum system in an “appalling state,” which has made the task more difficult. The sources highlighted that Labour is making progress by increasing the number of asylum decisions, reducing the backlog, and cracking down on illegal working.

As of September 2024, there were around 97,170 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision, down from a peak of 134,000 in June 2023. However, there are a record 34,169 outstanding immigration appeals, with many individuals using human rights laws to avoid deportation.

Ms Cooper stated: “Whether it be about foreign national offenders in our jails, visa overstayers, or failed asylum cases, the rules should be enforced. This is about basic respect and making the system work properly.”