The Home Office has announced the closure of 11 hotels used to house asylum seekers, with around 350 claimants moved to Crowborough military camp in East Sussex, described as 'basic accommodation'. The closures affect sites across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with more expected 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 in use has fallen to 185, down from a peak of 400. The Home Office said the closures will save £65 million.
Immigration Minister Alex Norris stated: 'Hotels were meant to be a short-term stopgap under the previous government, but they spiralled out of control – costing taxpayers billions and dumping the consequences on local communities.' He added that the government is moving people into more basic accommodation and scaling up large sites.
However, Refugee Council's Imran Hussain criticised the decision, saying military sites are unsuitable and 'more expensive than hotels'. He argued that giving temporary permission to stay to people from countries like Sudan and Iran could 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 hiding the situation by moving people into residential apartments, which he said reduces housing availability for young people.
