The cost of housing migrants in hotels has risen to £8m a day, according to new figures from the Home Office. The annual accounts, published on Tuesday, showed a sharp increase driven by record levels of illegal migration and asylum claims.
The use of hotels has expanded as the backlog of unprocessed claims grew. The government has pledged to reduce reliance on hotels, but a source acknowledged the figures underscore the urgency of moving migrants out of hotels and stopping small boat crossings.
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the Conservatives of 'busting the Home Office budget' and noted that hotel costs had risen by a third since Rishi Sunak promised to end hotel use. Labour have proposed a returns deal with the EU but deny they would join a formal quota scheme.
The government is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on its Rwanda plan, which it argues will deter people smugglers. The Illegal Migration Act, passed this year, grants powers to remove those arriving illegally, but has drawn criticism from figures including the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Separately, the government confirmed it had ended the use of hotels for Afghan refugees under the resettlement scheme. Cabinet Office minister Johnny Mercer said more than 85% of the 8,000 Afghans in hotels at the end of March had been moved into settled accommodation, though some had refused offers.
Last year, over 45,000 people arrived in small boats across the Channel, the highest on record. This year the total stands at about 21,000. Hotels housing asylum seekers have faced demonstrations, some turning violent.
