The Home Office has announced that hundreds of asylum seekers have been moved from government-funded hotels to army barracks, including 350 to Crowborough military camp in East Sussex. Eleven hotels in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been closed, with more expected to shut in the coming weeks. The move follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers before the next general election.
The number of hotels still housing asylum seekers has fallen to 185, down from a peak of 400. Approximately 30,000 people remain in hotels, while over 70,000 are in other accommodation such as shared housing or military sites. The Home Office stated that the closures will save £65 million, with Immigration Minister Alex Norris describing hotels as a 'short-term stopgap' that 'spiralled out of control' under the previous government.
Refugee Council director Imran Hussain criticised the decision, arguing that military sites are unsuitable and 'more expensive than hotels'. He added that they isolate people from communities and essential services. Hussain suggested granting temporary permission to stay to people from countries like Sudan and Iran as a better alternative to empty hotels within months.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed there are more asylum seekers in hotels now than at the time of the election, accusing the government of 'shunting people from hotels into residential apartments' to hide the situation. Protests outside hotels have turned violent in the past, including an incident in Rotherham in August 2024 where protesters tried to set fire to a hotel.
