The Home Office has announced that hundreds of asylum seekers have been removed from government-funded hotels and relocated to army barracks, as part of a plan to close all such hotels before the next general election. Eleven hotels in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been shut, with around 350 claimants moved to Crowborough military camp in East Sussex, described as 'basic accommodation'. More closures are expected in the coming weeks.
The move follows a pledge by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers, which cost taxpayers billions under the previous government. The number of hotels still in use stands at 185, down from a peak of 400. Approximately 30,000 people are housed in hotels, while over 70,000 live in other accommodation such as shared housing or military barracks.
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. We are shutting them down by moving people into more basic accommodation, scaling up large sites, removing record numbers of people with no right to remain.' The Home Office says the latest closures will save £65 million.
However, the Refugee Council has criticised the decision, arguing that military sites are unsuitable and more expensive than hotels. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs, said: 'The government’s own spending watchdog previously found that they are more expensive than hotels, and they isolate people from local communities and essential services.' He suggested granting temporary permission to stay to people from countries like Sudan and Iran as a better alternative.
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 what is going on'. Protests outside hotels have become tense, with some turning violent, such as in Rotherham in August 2024 when protesters tried to set fire to a hotel with asylum seekers inside.
