UK Home Office Moves Asylum Seekers from Hotels to Army Barracks
The UK Home Office has announced the relocation of hundreds of asylum seekers from government-funded hotels to army barracks, marking a significant step in Labour’s pledge to close all such hotels before the next general election. Eleven asylum hotels across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have been closed, with approximately 350 claimants moved to the Crowborough military camp in East Sussex, described as basic accommodation. The government aims to shut down remaining facilities in the coming weeks, citing billions in taxpayer costs and social tensions caused by hotel placements. Immigration Minister Alex Norris stated that hotel use had spiraled out of control under the previous administration. However, the Refugee Council criticized the move, arguing that military sites are unsuitable and potentially more expensive than hotels. This decision occurs amidst heightened political pressure, with Reform UK campaigning for total hotel closures and local elections approaching. The number of active asylum hotels has decreased from a peak of 400 to 185, housing around 30,000 people, while over 70,000 others reside in shared housing or other barracks.
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UK Home Office Moves Asylum Seekers from Hotels to Army Barracks
The UK Home Office has announced the relocation of hundreds of asylum seekers from government-funded hotels to army barracks, marking a significant step in Labour’s pledge to close all such hotels before the next general election. Eleven asylum hotels across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have been closed, with approximately 350 claimants moved to the Crowborough military camp in East Sussex, described as basic accommodation. The government aims to shut down remaining facilities in the coming weeks, citing billions in taxpayer costs and social tensions caused by hotel placements. Immigration Minister Alex Norris stated that hotel use had spiraled out of control under the previous administration. However, the Refugee Council criticized the move, arguing that military sites are unsuitable and potentially more expensive than hotels. This decision occurs amidst heightened political pressure, with Reform UK campaigning for total hotel closures and local elections approaching. The number of active asylum hotels has decreased from a peak of 400 to 185, housing around 30,000 people, while over 70,000 others reside in shared housing or other barracks.
The Guardian