Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared his intention to speed up the closure of asylum hotels, stating, 'I want them emptied.' The comments come as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper prepares to deliver a major update on the border and asylum system in the Commons, marking the first day back for MPs after the summer recess.
The Government has faced mounting tensions over small boat crossings and the use of hotels, particularly after a successful appeal to keep the Bell Hotel open for migrants. Cooper is expected to announce tougher rules for migrants granted asylum to bring their families to the UK, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners.
In a message to Reform UK and the Conservatives, Cooper will say: 'These are complex challenges and they require sustainable and workable solutions, not fantasy promises which can't be delivered.' She will emphasise the UK's 'proud record of giving sanctuary to those fleeing persecution' but stress the need for a system that is 'properly controlled and managed.'
New YouGov polling reveals that half of Britons (50%) believe asylum applicants granted refugee status should not be able to apply to bring family members to the UK. Three in ten (31%) support the right, while 19% are unsure. Labour and Liberal Democrat voters are most likely to support family reunion, while Reform UK voters are most opposed.
Charities have condemned the proposed changes. Mubeen Bhutta of the British Red Cross warned the move 'will separate families and cut off one of the only safe and managed routes for children to seek protection.' Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK accused the Home Secretary of pursuing 'largely the same ambitions' as the previous government, calling the decision 'reckless and wrong.'
Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council added: 'Until now, family reunion has been one of the only safe and legal routes available... Far from stopping people taking dangerous journeys, these changes will only push more desperate people into the arms of smugglers.'
