UK Home Office to Announce Closure of 11 Asylum Hotels
The UK Home Office is set to announce the closure of 11 hotels currently housing asylum seekers, marking a significant step in the Labour government's pledge to eliminate hotel usage for asylum accommodation by the end of this parliament. This decision addresses long-standing controversies surrounding the practice, which expanded during the pandemic and sparked violent anti-migrant protests in locations like Rotherham and Falkirk. Critics, including refugee NGOs and the Red Cross, have condemned hotels as unsuitable for long-term stays, citing health issues and excessive costs. Concurrently, the Home Office is preparing to re-tender asylum accommodation contracts worth approximately £10 billion for the period 2029–2036, aiming to shift towards basic accommodation such as ex-military sites. The government reports a 45% reduction in hotel populations since the previous administration's peak. However, the funding strategy remains contentious, as part of the overseas aid budget is diverted to cover these domestic costs, a practice criticized by development networks for reducing humanitarian aid available for global crises.
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UK Home Office to Announce Closure of 11 Asylum Hotels
The UK Home Office is set to announce the closure of 11 hotels currently housing asylum seekers, marking a significant step in the Labour government's pledge to eliminate hotel usage for asylum accommodation by the end of this parliament. This decision addresses long-standing controversies surrounding the practice, which expanded during the pandemic and sparked violent anti-migrant protests in locations like Rotherham and Falkirk. Critics, including refugee NGOs and the Red Cross, have condemned hotels as unsuitable for long-term stays, citing health issues and excessive costs. Concurrently, the Home Office is preparing to re-tender asylum accommodation contracts worth approximately £10 billion for the period 2029–2036, aiming to shift towards basic accommodation such as ex-military sites. The government reports a 45% reduction in hotel populations since the previous administration's peak. However, the funding strategy remains contentious, as part of the overseas aid budget is diverted to cover these domestic costs, a practice criticized by development networks for reducing humanitarian aid available for global crises.
The Guardian