A recent article caused some confusion by calling asylum seekers “illegal migrants.” The truth is, while some asylum seekers may enter the UK without permission, it’s wrong to call them “illegal” once they’ve applied for asylum and are going through the legal process. That part of the article has now been corrected.
In a recent Parliament discussion, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that there’s “lots of housing” available in Britain for asylum seekers. But his comment has sparked criticism. Many people, including opposition politicians and local council leaders, say this doesn’t reflect reality. Councils across the country are already struggling to find enough homes for the homeless, and they now also have to compete with the Home Office, which is searching for places to house asylum seekers.
Starmer defended himself by blaming the previous government for leaving thousands of asylum cases unresolved. He explained that because these cases weren’t processed in time, many asylum seekers ended up stuck in taxpayer-funded housing with nowhere else to go. He added that there are indeed many local councils that have housing available, and the government is working to find and use those spaces. When asked to provide examples, he said he would send the details in writing to the committee.
Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, strongly disagreed with Starmer’s claim. He pointed out that over 1.3 million people in England are waiting for social housing, and said it’s unrealistic to claim there’s lots of extra housing available. He posted on social media, questioning Starmer’s statement and calling it “madness.”
Even some Labour MPs were unsure about the Prime Minister’s view. Dame Meg Hillier, who represents Hackney South and Shoreditch and chairs the Treasury Committee, said that many councils around the country simply don’t have spare housing. She added that if they did, the housing crisis would have already been solved.
Labour has promised to stop using hotels to house asylum seekers by the year 2029. Part of the plan involves moving migrants into cheaper government-funded accommodation. Starmer has also said he wants councils to act faster and make use of new government funding to provide temporary shelter for homeless people.
This all comes at a time when the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats has passed 22,500 this year. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has urged Starmer to take action, calling it a “public safety crisis.” Philp condemned recent violent protests connected to crimes committed by some asylum seekers, but said that many British people are “sick of this illegal immigrant crime wave.
One such protest took place outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Six protesters were arrested and charged with violent disorder following demonstrations at the hotel.
Dame Diana Johnson, a minister in the Home Office, responded by saying the government is taking these kinds of cases very seriously. She announced that the law is being updated to ensure that anyone convicted of a sexual offence will not be allowed to claim asylum in the UK.
She also said the government is working on new rules to place electronic tags on migrants who are considered a risk to public safety or national security. In addition, there will be tougher penalties for illegal working. She added that the government is committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers as soon as possible.
