Councils Across the UK Consider Action Against Home Office's Migrant Hotel Policy

Labour-controlled councils in Wirral and Tamworth have announced they are considering action against the Home Office's policy of using hotels as migrant accommodation. The move comes after the High Court granted a temporary injunction to stop asylum seekers from being housed in The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged 33 Conservative councils to take similar action, while Reform and Lib Dem authorities are exploring legal options.

Key Takeaways:

• 32,345 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels as of March 2025, with another 71,339 in other accommodation.
• The Home Office is scrambling to find accommodation for up to 138 men housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping before the September 12 deadline to empty it.
• Labour spokesperson accused the Tories of "desperate and hypocritical nonsense" regarding the asylum system.
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged 33 Conservative councils to take action against the Home Office's migrant hotel policy.
• Reform UK and Lib Dem authorities are exploring legal options to challenge the use of hotels as migrant accommodation.
• Many councils across the UK, including Tory-run Broxbourne and Reform-led West Northamptonshire, are considering or have declared their intention to take action against the policy.

Statistics:

• 32,345 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels as of March 2025.
• Another 71,339 asylum seekers were in other accommodation as of March 2025.
• The Home Office aims to empty the Bell Hotel in Epping before September 12.
• Up to 138 men are housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping.
• The number of asylum hotels in use rose to 400 under the Tories, but is now around half that.

Sources:

• Labour-controlled Wirral Council (no date)
• Tamworth Labour Report (no date)
• The Guardian (no date)
• BBC (no date)
• The Telegraph (no date)
• The Times (no date)
• ITV (no date)
• Sky News (no date)
• The Sun (no date)