A situation described as a “scandal of profiteering” has brought attention to the significant earnings of contractors and hotel companies at the expense of asylum seeker children enduring living conditions with cockroaches and vermin, Members of Parliament revealed.
Critics denounced misconceptions about migrants living lavishly during their asylum claim processes, accusing Reform of exploiting the issue for personal gain. Pressure mounts on government officials to accelerate the closure of asylum hotels, which saw a surge in usage under the previous administration.
A petition signed by nearly half a million individuals called for the withdrawal of essential support, including shelter, medical care, and food, from asylum seekers, a move deemed “immoral” during a contentious debate.
Speaking out against the profiteering practices, Labour MP Luke Charters criticized the exorbitant profits made by private hotel companies and contractors, highlighting the dire living conditions faced by asylum seekers, including expired food, pest infestations, and inadequate facilities.
Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy emphasized the substandard living conditions in various accommodations for asylum seekers, noting overcrowded rooms, poor maintenance, and infestations of pests like bedbugs and cockroaches.
Former Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer criticized the limitations faced by asylum seekers residing in hotel rooms, pointing out the lack of cooking facilities, privacy, and the resulting isolation and mental health challenges due to restrictions on accessing public funds.
Recent data indicated a decrease in the number of asylum seekers residing in hotels, with plans to phase out this practice by the end of the current parliamentary term. The Home Office is obligated to provide basic support to destitute asylum seekers while their claims are processed, as they are prohibited from working and receive minimal financial assistance.
Labour MP Kevin Bonavia highlighted the broader European context of the asylum seeker situation and criticized attempts to politicize the issue for personal gain. Responding to calls to cut support for asylum seekers, MP Tony Vaughan clarified the limited financial aid provided to asylum seekers compared to mainstream benefits and dispelled myths about the attractiveness of the UK support system.
Vaughan warned against the repercussions of abruptly ending support for asylum seekers, predicting a substantial increase in homelessness and strain on public services. He stressed the ethical implications of such actions and the potential negative impact on society at large.