In a bid to reduce the cost of illegal immigration, the UK government has announced plans to stop using dozens of hotels currently housing thousands of asylum seekers. Home Office minister Robert Jenrick revealed in the House of Commons on Tuesday that the number of asylum hotels will be reduced by 50 by January 2024.
Jenrick informed MPs, “The first 50 of these exits will begin in the coming days and will be complete by the end of January, with more tranches to follow shortly.” He emphasised the government’s commitment to implementing its strategy to curb illegal immigration while ensuring the orderly and effective management of the transition to limit the impact on local communities.
The decision to exit these hotels is part of an effort to decrease the substantial £8 million daily expenditure to accommodate around 47,500 people in hotels. The government aims to relocate asylum seekers to alternative facilities such as barges and old army bases.
Reports suggest that the hotels earmarked for closure align with areas the Conservative Party hopes to target in the upcoming general election expected next year. Financial Secretary to the Treasury Victoria Atkins highlighted the diminishing need for asylum hotels, citing a 25% reduction in illegal crossings compared to the same period last year. However, critics attribute this reduction to less-favourable weather conditions, arguing that significant numbers still attempt the journey on milder days.
Jenrick rejected claims that the reduction in crossings is solely due to weather conditions, stating that this year’s weather has been more favourable than in 2022. Despite the decline, over 21,000 arrivals have been recorded this year.
Asylum seekers have been housed in hotels, but the government deems this practice unsustainable and unfair to British taxpayers. Alternative plans include utilising barges, exemplified by the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset. The government is actively pursuing various measures, including international discussions and plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, to address the challenges associated with immigration and accommodation costs.
