Keir Starmer has announced his intention to accelerate the closure of asylum hotels, emphasizing his determination to have them vacated. The Prime Minister expressed his desire to shut down these facilities before the scheduled 2029 deadline, citing public discontent. This decision coincided with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s suspension of the UK’s refugee family reunion program, a move that stirred controversy among human rights organizations.
During an interview with the BBC, Mr. Starmer criticized Reform leader Nigel Farage for promoting impractical and unrealistic concepts. When questioned about the timetable for shutting down asylum hotels, the PM remarked, “We had pledged to eliminate them by the end of the Parliamentary term. I aim to expedite this process, viewing it as a positive challenge.”
Recent statistics indicate that by the end of June, more than 32,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels, a decrease from over 56,000 during the previous administration. Pressure mounts on the government to close these hotels following a series of confrontations outside the premises in recent weeks.
Mr. Starmer criticized Reform for capitalizing on migration grievances, stating that their relevance diminishes if the issue is resolved. Notably, the government successfully appealed for the continued operation of the Bell Hotel in Epping, overturning a previous High Court order to cease housing asylum seekers.
Addressing Members of Parliament, Ms. Cooper emphasized the need for a structured approach to closing the approximately 200 hotels currently in use. She announced the cessation of family reunion applications for those granted refugee status and highlighted the surge in such applications over the years.
Under a new ‘one in, one out’ deal with France, the first wave of small boat arrivals will be returned, marking the first return agreement with Europe post-Brexit. Ms. Cooper stressed the importance of keeping families together and outlined the forthcoming reforms in immigration policies.
However, critics like Steve Valdez-Symonds from Amnesty UK and Enver Solomon from Refugee Council condemned the government’s actions, labeling them as detrimental and against the country’s values. They emphasized the critical role of family reunion in aiding refugees to rebuild their lives and integrate into society.
Ms. Cooper provided an update on the return agreement with France, revealing the detention of individuals arriving by small boats and the anticipated commencement of returns. She underscored the security checks for applicants under the reciprocal legal route, emphasizing the pilot nature of the scheme with future development in mind.
