Far-right activists are actively trying to stoke violence at asylum hotels across the UK, raising fears of a repeat of last year's racist riots. While the scale may not reach that of 2023, anti-fascist campaigners say lower-level disturbances are likely, particularly after protests in Epping, Essex, and false rumours about hotel residents being moved to Canary Wharf.
The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has become a contentious issue, but the reasons behind this practice are often overlooked. By its peak in 2023, more than 55,000 people were in hotels, waiting months for their claims to be processed. Today, the number has dropped to about 30,000.
The UK relies on costly hotel accommodation far more than other European countries, a situation resulting from a series of government decisions. In 2002, Tony Blair's Labour government banned asylum seekers from working, making them dependent on state support. Later, David Cameron's coalition government privatised asylum accommodation in 2012, outsourcing to profit-driven contractors that often failed to provide decent housing.
Under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, the asylum system was further undermined. During the first Covid lockdown in 2020, asylum seekers were placed in empty hotels for public health reasons, coinciding with an increase in Channel crossings by small boats. The government then attempted to push through the Rwanda scheme, which was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.
The Home Office says the Rwanda plan is necessary to disrupt the business model of people-smuggling gangs and reduce asylum applications. However, critics argue the policy is unworkable and inhumane, while failing to address the backlog of claims. With far-right activists mobilising online for further protests, the situation remains volatile.
