Migrants will be housed in hotels for another 4 years as Labour pushes back deadline again

The UK government has announced that asylum seekers will continue to be housed in hotels for up to four more years, despite earlier promises to end the practice. Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office’s top civil servant, revealed this during a Commons Home Affairs Committee meeting, stating that the department’s “overarching aim” is to stop using hotels by the end of the current Parliament in August 2029. This timeline contrasts sharply with Labour’s election pledge to end hotel use within a year by hiring 1,000 additional caseworkers to clear the backlog of asylum applications.

Currently, 218 hotels are being used to house asylum seekers, down from a peak of 400 in late 2023. However, Sir Matthew warned that the number could fluctuate, as the government is legally obligated to provide accommodation, and hotels are sometimes the only option. He acknowledged that while progress has been made, the process is complex and will take time.

The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has been a contentious issue, with the UK spending £3 billion on such accommodations in the 2023-24 financial year alone. This figure is part of a broader increase in spending on asylum support, which has risen from £739 million in 2019-20 to £4.7 billion in 2023-24. The previous Conservative government faced criticism for the high costs and inefficiencies of the system, and Labour had vowed to address the issue swiftly upon taking office.

However, since entering Downing Street, Labour ministers have admitted that ending the use of hotels will take longer than initially promised. Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle noted that while nine hotels are set to close by March, the number of hotels in use has risen slightly in recent months. The government has also shifted away from using large sites like the Bibby Stockholm barge and canceled plans for a facility at RAF Scampton.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has emphasized the need to enforce immigration rules, whether for foreign criminals, visa overstayers, or failed asylum cases. The government is also working with the Ministry of Justice to speed up the asylum appeals process and reduce the backlog of cases.

Despite these efforts, the continued reliance on hotels has drawn criticism from both the public and opposition parties. Critics argue that the government is failing to deliver on its promises and that the costs of housing asylum seekers in hotels are unsustainable.

The Home Office, however, maintains that it is making progress in addressing the “mess” inherited from the previous administration and is committed to finding more cost-effective and humane solutions.

As the debate over asylum policy continues, the government faces mounting pressure to balance its legal obligations with public expectations and fiscal responsibility. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Labour can deliver on its promises and reduce the reliance on hotels for housing asylum seekers.