Dozens of anti-immigration demonstrators across the UK have been met with counter-protesters as a weekend of planned action begins.
Footage from Leeds and Chichester showed groups of protesters holding up Great Britain flags and chanting across the street at a wave of anti-racism demonstrators. Police have been seen in both cities between the two groups; the demonstrations as a whole remain peaceful.
There has been a surge in protests against the use of such hotels since demonstration at The Bell Hotel in Epping earlier this summer.
Following the release of new migration figures on Thursday, more have been planned over the weekend. Two men have already been arrested during a Norwich protest on Thursday evening.
Stand Up to Racism has co-ordinated counter-protests at almost every site, including seven on Friday.
It comes as a security minister confirmed the government will take steps to challenge the High Court’s decision to prevent people seeking asylum from being housed in a hotel in Epping.
Dan Jarvis said that the Home Office will appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of The Bell Hotel.
If granted permission to intervene, it will open the way for a wider appeal against a temporary injunction handed down in the case.
Key Points
- Anti-immigrant and anti-racism demonstrators face off in Portsmouth
- Two men arrested at Norwich hotel protest
- Government seeking to appeal Epping case
- Demonstrations and counter-protests to take place today
- More councils consider legal action
- Anti-asylum hotel demonstrations to take place across UK
Epping councillor calls government decision 'deeply disappointing'
20:43 , Athena StavrouHolly Whitbread, in whose Epping West and Rural ward the Bell Hotel sits, has described the Home Office’s appeal bid as “deeply disappointing”.
The councillor, who is responsible for finance and economic development at Epping Forest District Council, told the PA news agency: “It was dreadful when the Government tried to intervene in the case on Tuesday.
“Obviously, they had time to get their ducks in a row and they were hugely disorganised, and then to take this further action today is deeply disappointing.
“I hope that the Court of Appeal will make the right decision in upholding the decision of the High Court.
“It really just continues to show the contempt that the Government have shown for our community here in Epping for a number of weeks, and beyond that when they first reopened the hotel a number of months ago.
“They’ve completely ignored community concerns. They seem to have no care for the impact this hotel is having on our community.”
Britain’s migration crisis: What the latest numbers really show
20:12 , Tom Watling
Britain’s migration crisis: What the latest numbers really show
I’m an ex-Met chief – but I’m glad I’m not policing this ‘bank holiday weekend of discontent’
19:46 , Tom Watling
I’m glad I’m not policing this ‘bank holiday weekend of discontent’
Half a dozen anti-migrant protesters turn up in Kent
19:15 , Tom WatlingOnly a handful of protesters have been seen outside a hotel believed to be housing asylum seekers in Kent, pictures have shown.
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
18:48 , Tom Watling
As Epping case could bring hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
Demonstrators wave British flags in Leeds and Chichester
18:42 , Tom WatlingLivestreams of demonstrations in Leeds and Chichester have shown a few dozen demonstrators holding up Great Britain flags as they protest the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Counter protesters can be seen across the road in both cities. They both appear peaceful but police are stationed in the gap between the two groups.
Shadow police minister hits back at Labour
18:09 , Tom WatlingShadow policing minister Matt Vickers MP has hit back at Labour’s plan to fight the temporary ban on housing asylum seekers in The Bell Hotel in Epping.
“ Utterly disgraceful that Labour are taking legal action to try and keep the Bell Hotel in Epping open!” he wrote on X.
“Every single illegal immigrant should be immediately deported, not kept in a hotel.”
Utterly disgraceful that Labour are taking legal action to try and keep the Bell Hotel in Epping open!
— Matt Vickers MP (@Matt_VickersMP) August 22, 2025
Every single illegal immigrant should be immediately deported, not kept in a hotel. https://t.co/5B0cwRUafd
Lucy Connolly to consider legal action against police after prison release
17:40 , Tom WatlingLucy Connolly is considering taking legal action against the police after her release from prison, she has told the Telegraph.
The 42-year-old was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers online in the aftermath of the Southport murders last year.
Mrs Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was released from HMP Peterborough on Thursday.
On legal action, Mrs Connolly told the Telegraph: “That’s something that I will be looking into. I don’t want to say too much because I need to seek legal advice on that, but I do think the police were dishonest in what they released and what they said about me, and I will be holding them to account for that.”
The former childminder, from Northampton, had pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing “threatening or abusive” written material on X and was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court in October last year.
On July 29, 2024, she had posted on X: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care … if that makes me racist so be it.”
She was freed from prison after serving 40 per cent of her 31-month sentence, the automatic release point for her sentence.
Mrs Connolly will remain on licence until the end of her sentence.
Anti-immigration protests expected across UK shortly
17:20 , Tom WatlingAnti-immigration protests are expected to begin across the UK in the next 10 minutes.
Demonstrations are due to start in Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, Leeds, Leicester and Orpington from 5.30pm.
Police braced for weekend of unrest as fresh wave of hotel protests clashes with Notting Hill Carnival
17:07 , Tom Watling
Police braced for weekend of unrest as fresh hotel protests clash with Carnival
Anti-racism demonstrators join counter-protest
17:01 , Athena StavrouRita, from Portsmouth, who joined the Stand Up To Racism counter protest in Portsmouth, said: “I am sick and tired of being someone who defends rapists and paedophiles, what I defend is human rights.
“I feel ashamed (at the protest) and I say this as a white British elderly lady who has been spat upon, verbally abused and things thrown at, just for being on this side of the road.
“I am angry that my Christianity is being used as a weapon by the right and to be used in the name of fascism.”
Mary, from Portsmouth, said: “I believe in dignity, equality and giving people a fair chance.
“We have all come from somewhere originally, I am from Northern Ireland and we all came from Africa originally.
“I am really upset at the violent way in which these other people are intimidating people who have fled intimidation all of their lives and are facing it here again, it’s completely wrong.”
Two men arrested at Norwich hotel protest
16:37 , Tom WatlingTwo men attending a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Norwich have been arrested.
Norfolk Police said the two men in their 20s were arrested outside the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, Norwich, at around 7.20 pm on Thursday.
One man was alleged to have been viewing offensive material while the second was reportedly swearing repeatedly at a member of the public. They were both arrested on suspicion of public order offences.
Protesters left the area, which has been the scene of several demonstrations in recent weeks, at around midnight.
Cooper: Closing asylum hotels must be orderly
16:19 , Athena StavrouThe closure of asylum hotels must be done “in a properly managed way” rather than through “piecemeal court decisions”, the Home Secretary has said.
In a statement, Yvette Cooper said: “We agree with communities across the country that all asylum hotels need to close, including the Bell Hotel, and we are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme that avoids simply creating problems for other areas or local councils as a result of piecemeal court decisions or a return to the kind of chaos which led to so many hotels being opened in the first place.
“That is the reason for the Home Office appeal in this case, to ensure that going forward, the closure of all hotels can be done in a properly managed way right across the country without creating problems for other areas and local councils.”
Ms Cooper reiterated Labour’s manifesto commitment to end the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers.
She also accused the previous Conservative government of presiding over a “chaotic and disorderly situation” in 2022 that saw “140 extra hotels were opened in the space of six months because they lost control of the system”.
Bell Hotel owners plan to appeal court ruling
15:59 , Athena StavrouSomani Hotels, the owner of the Bell Hotel in Epping, plans to appeal against a court order blocking the use of the hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.
The company’s legal representatives said: “Somani Hotels Ltd has instructed its solicitors to appeal the injunction order of Mr Justice Eyre. There is no further comment at this time.”
Asylum seekers feel 'hunted' amid scenes of hate on UK streets
15:43 , Athena StavrouAsylum seekers in hotels feel “hunted” by protests, campaigners said as one Afghan man told of being seen as “an enemy” by the British public after fleeing to the UK for a safer life.
Demonstrations in recent weeks have left some of those seeking asylum feeling “afraid to go outside”, according to Asylum Matters, which works with asylum seekers and refugees.
Many feel “hunted” amid scenes of “hate and intimidation on Britain’s streets”, the Freedom from Torture charity said.
A 26-year-old Afghan man who has been living in a hotel in Yorkshire for almost two years, said he is scared of what might happen to him here.
“I feel like nobody likes me, the people of this city don’t want us, but I don’t have any other option. It’s really hit my confidence,” he said.
“Before I used to talk very socially with everyone. Now I’m scared, what if they abuse you, what if they record you? It’s hard. I can’t explain – but this year it has totally changed. People see us as an enemy.”
People at Portsmouth demonstration share their opinions
15:25 , Athena StavrouProtester Mat Silva, 66, a retired car sprayer from Fareham, said: “I am fed up seeing those who come into our country illegally being housed better than our veterans and our OAPs.
“They get free accommodation, gas, electricity, four meals a day, while our veterans are on the street.”
He added: “Look how many millions it’s costing each day – if they are genuine asylum seekers or refugees coming in the right way with passports, then fair enough, it’s nothing to do with racism, it’s about people entering illegally.”
Anti-immigrant protesters face off with counter-demonstrators in Portsmouth
15:16 , Athena StavrouImmigration protesters waving Union flags have faced off with anti-racism demonstrators in Portsmouth city centre.
Police watched as people on each side gathered on the steps outside the council offices in the Hampshire city.
One protester tied a large flag of St George to the balcony which had on it the words “Born in England, Live in England, Die in England”.
The counter protesters also put up a banner, saying “Refugees Welcome, Celebrate Diversity”.
Police enforced a gap between the two groups as the anti-immigrant group chanted “Send them home” while the counter group chanted: “Refugees are welcome here.”
Latest Home Office stats in graphs:
15:08 , Athena Stavrou
Why are the government appealing the case?
14:45 , Athena StavrouThe government’s challenge comes after the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council the temporary injunction on Tuesday that blocked asylum seekers from being housed in the hotel from September 12.
The local authority had sought legal action after the accommodation site had been at the centre of protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies.
Before judgment was handed down on Tuesday, barristers for the Home Office asked to intervene in the case, citing the “substantial impact” caused to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in performing her legal duties to asylum seekers.
They argued moving asylum seekers in the short period would cause “particular acute difficulties” for the Government, but their bid was dismissed.
'It's not a piecemeal court decision,' says Epping Forest councillor
14:40 , Holly EvansIt was Epping Forest District Council’s “job to enforce planning regulations”, Holly Whitbread has said.
Asked about Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s warning that asylum hotels must be closed “in a properly managed way” rather than through “piecemeal court decisions”, the Conservative councillor for Epping West and Rural ward replied: “First of all, it’s not a piecemeal court decision, it’s a decision on a planning point.”
She alleged that “the owner of the hotel is not working within planning law” and said: “Ultimately, as a district council, it’s our job to enforce planning regulations.”
Ms Whitbread, who is also responsible for finance on Epping Forest District Council, added: “The Government keep churning out the line that they’re going to get all the hotels closed by the end of this Parliament. Our community can’t afford to wait another four years.”
She described “numerous incidents” allegedly involving asylum seekers and a “fear that has existed in the community from that”.
Owners of The Bell Hotel in Epping seek to appeal injunction ruling
14:29 , Holly BancroftFollowing the news that the Home Office will seek to challenge the Epping hotel injunction, lawyers acting for the hotel's owners have said they will seek to do the same.
In a statement to The Independent, solicitors for Somani Hotels Ltd said: "Somani Hotels Ltd has instructed its solicitors to appeal the injunction order of Mr Justice Eyre. There is no further comment at this time".
The hotel's owners had applied to High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre for permission to appeal but were refused. They can now apply for permission directly to the Court of Appeal, as the Home Office have now done.
Why are people seeking asylum in hotels?
14:21 , Athena StavrouAsylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation, known as contingency accommodation, if they are awaiting assessment of their claim or have had a claim approved and there is not enough longer-term accommodation available.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office – which has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute – can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.
Can the government appeal the Epping hotel injunction?
13:59 , Athena StavrouThe Independent's Social Affairs Correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
Home Office minister Dan Jarvis has said that the government will seek to appeal an injunction against the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping for housing asylum seekers.
Home Office lawyers have already asked a High Court judge for permission to intervene in the case and were rebuffed.
They were also refused permission by that judge Mr Justice Eyre, to appeal that refusal.
The Home Office will now have to make a separate application direct to the Court of Appeal to challenge Mr Eyre's decision to keep them out.
However the Court of Appeal has not yet made a decision on this, meaning they could yet be turned away.
Hotel owners Somani Hotels Ltd, who Epping Forest District Council, took to court in the first instance, were also refused permission to appeal the injunction by the High Court judge.
They have yet to say whether they will make a separate application to the Court of Appeal.
Tories say government's appeal bid 'completely wrong'
13:40 , Athena StavrouThe Home Office’s appeal bid “is completely wrong”, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has said.
He said: “The Epping Bell Hotel injunction has been a victory for local people, led by a Conservative council working hard for their community.
“This is the difference Conservatives in local government deliver.
“In opposition, Labour worked hand-in-glove with activist lawyers to sabotage Conservative immigration plans. In Government, nothing has changed.
“It is completely wrong that the Labour Government is taking legal action to keep open the Bell Hotel.
“The Government isn’t listening to the public or to the courts.
“Instead of trying to keep illegal immigrants in expensive hotels, the Conservatives would remove all illegal arrivals, put in place a real deterrent and ensure towns like Epping are never put in this position again.”
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Watch: Dan Jarvis says government to appeal against Epping asylum hotel ruling
13:33 , Athena StavrouHow can the government challenge the case?
13:11 , Athena StavrouThe Home Office is seeking to appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping.
It is the first steps to appeal the court’s decision to provide a temporary injunction blocking the Home Office from using the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation.
If granted permission to intervene in the case, it will be allowed to appeal the judgement.
Graph: People claiming asylum in the UK, by route of entry
12:56 , Athena Stavrou
Minister reaffirms Labour commitment to 'end asylum hotels'
12:44 , Athena StavrouDan Jarvis has vowed the Labour Government will meet its 2024 manifesto commitment to “end asylum hotels”.
Asked whether he was “worried about any copycat protests” following the High Court’s decision this week, the security minister told broadcasters: “We’ve made a very clear commitment that we’re going to close all of the asylum hotels.
“That was a manifesto commitment that we stood on and we will honour.
“We’re clearing up the legacy that we inherited from the previous government but the closures of these hotels need to be done in an ordered and managed way.”
Watch: Chris Philp challenged over why he didn't encourage councils to take legal action over asylum hotels when Tories were in power
12:41 , Athena StavrouMinister outlines reason for High Court challenge
12:38 , Athena StavrouSecurity minister Dan Jarvis has said closing hotels housing asylum seekers must be done “in a managed and ordered way” as he unveiled Government plans to challenge the High Court’s decision related to the Bell Hotel in Epping.
He told broadcasters: “This Government will close all asylum hotels and we will clear up the mess that we inherited from the previous government.
“We’ve made a commitment that we will close all of the asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, but we need to do that in a managed and ordered way.
“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision.”
Government seeking to appeal Epping case
12:31 , Athena StavrouThe Home Office will seek to appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping, security minister Dan Jarvis said.
What was the Epping case about?
12:29 , Athena StavrouAnti-migrant protesters and counter-protesters gathered for weeks outside the Bell Hotel in Epping after news that a hotel resident tried to kiss a 14-year-old girl and was charged with sexual assault. The man has denied the accusation and is due to stand trial later this month.
Epping Forest District Council sought a temporary injunction to shut down the hotel because of “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption,” which had led to several arrests.
The High Court decision in favor of the council has the potential to spread elsewhere and government ministers are scrambling to work out what they can do if other councils manage to win similar rulings.
However, the Epping decision was based on planning laws, which may not apply elsewhere.
How many people seeking asylum are in hotels and how much does it cost?
12:01 , Athena StavrouThe latest Home Office figures show that there were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels at the end of June, up eight per cent on the same point 12 months ago.
This is down slightly on the previous quarter, however, and far lower than the peak of 56,000 in September 2023. There are also now fewer than 210 hotels in use, down from 400 in summer 2023.
These hotels only make up around 35 per cent of all people in asylum accommodation, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) in May.
But their cost is disproportionately expensive, making up 76 per cent of total government spending on asylum accommodation.
And, as has been seen in recent months, they are also a hot-bed for protests which have oftentimes turned violent.
A group raising money to get every lamp post in their village adorned with the ‘beautiful’ St George’s flag has been met with backlash.
Helen Coffey asks whether the far right’s commandeering of our national symbol means it’s forever tainted:
From patriotic to racist – can the England flag ever be reclaimed?
Shadow minister calls for Rwanda-style plan
11:16 , Athena StavrouAsked about the housing migrant crisis, Katie Lam said: “There is no good answer, there is nowhere satisfactory to put people who have come here illegally other than to detain them and deport them.”
Labour are now facing the prospect of several councils launching legal action against migrant hotels, which could see asylum seekers placed into HMO or military bases.
The shadow home office minister said this would come at an “eyewatering cost to the taxpayer” and said: “The only solution is to detain people when they arrive.”
She added: “It is difficult to do, this labour government has made it harder, they have scrapped the Rwanda plan for ideological reasons, I think they may have come to regret that as it was the only real deterrent.”
Latest migration stats in graphs
10:48 , Athena StavrouEpping asylum hotel numbers rose from 28 to 199 in three months
10:17 , Athena StavrouA council at the centre of a legal case to block a hotel from housing asylum seekers was among the top 10 UK local authorities which saw the biggest rise in numbers staying in this kind of accommodation in recent months.
Epping Forest District Council in Essex went from housing 28 asylum seekers in hotels in its area in March this year, to 199 by the end of June.
The latest data breakdown, published by the Home Office on Thursday, comes two days after the council secured a High Court temporary injunction blocking the use of Epping’s Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers on planning grounds.
The legal case followed protests and counter-protests outside the Bell Hotel.
There were 124 local authorities across the UK housing asylum seekers in hotels at the end of June, according to the Home Office data.
This is around a third of all UK authorities.
Warning far-right has ‘hijacked’ women’s safety for political gain
09:37 , Athena StavrouLeading women’s rights groups have warned that the far right movement has “hijacked” the issue of women’s safety for political gain.
More than 100 organisations have written to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to urge the government to stop far-right groups from “weaponising” violence against women and girls (VAWG) for a “racist, anti-migrant agenda”.
Read the full article here:
Warning far-right has ‘hijacked’ women’s safety for political gain
Asylum seeker in Epping hotel says close them and 'let us work'
09:15 , Athena StavrouAn asylum seeker staying in the Bell Hotel in Epping has urged the government to “close all the hotels” and allow people to work.
Mohammed, from Somalia, told the BBC that he thought regular housing “would be better”.
He expressed the desire to support himself by working instead.
"So, if you cannot work and you don't have enough socials [things to do], it is difficult," he told the broadcaster.
"They are not allowed to work; they stay for long time.
"We don't have guarantee [of becoming a] resident, so they get stress.
"The people, they go outside and they try to make problem."
Shadow minister asked if there are concerns protests could turn violent
08:43 , Athena StavrouShadow Home Office minister Katie Lam has said that members of the public have the right to protest, as police forces across the country prepare for an estimated 30 anti-migrant events and counter-protests.
She told GB News: "I think that we’ve been seeing are local people peacefully making their voices heard and their thoughts known. In a democracy we should all welcome putting forward how they feel about something, and voicing genuine concerns. They have a right to express that."
Asked if she was concerned that these protests could stretch police services, which will take place alongside Premier League football games and the Notting Hill Carnival, she said: “If they tip into violence but a lot of these protests haven’t and long may that continue.”
Asylum claims backlog at 71,000
08:27 , Athena StavrouThursday’s migration figures have shown that the government has made progress on cutting the asylum application backlog.
The total number waiting was 70,532 in June, down from more than 90,000 at the end of 2024, after the former Tory government stopped processing applications while it waited to see if it could send people to Rwanda under its ultimately failed deportation scheme.
The numbers waiting for more than 12 months for a decision are also falling significantly, although some 19,000 are still waiting.
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
08:15 , Athena StavrouA High Court Judge ruled that asylum seekers can no longer be housed at a hotel in Epping that has been the site of multiple protests in recent weeks.
The Home Office is responsible for asylum and protection in the UK, and must now find somewhere else for these people to go.
Some of the options include other hotels, HMOs or military bases:
As Epping case could bring hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
More councils consider legal action
07:47 , Athena StavrouLabour is facing the possibility of more councils launching legal action to restrict the use of asylum hotels.
Hillingdon Council is the latest to indicate it is considering its legal options following Epping Council’s High Court win.
Hillingdon Council leader Ian Edwards told Local Democracy Reporters: “Our head of legal will be reviewing the judgement to determine if a similar case can be brought."
The government is scrambling to draw up a contingency plan as it braces for challenges from authorities including Labour-run councils, who are now among those considering legal challenges of their own.
Counter-protests planned for today
07:33 , Athena StavrouSeven counter-protests have been set up by anti-racism campaigners on Friday.
In recent weeks, there has been a surge in anti-migrant demonstrations outside hotels housing people who are seeking asylum.
Following the release of migration figures, dozens more have been planned over the weekend, The Independent understands.
Stand Up to Racism has co-ordinated counter-protests at almost every site.
On Friday counter-protests will go ahead outside hotels in cities and towns including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, and Leeds.
YouGov: More Britons blame Conservatives for issues around asylum hotels than blame Labour
07:12 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
New YouGov polling finds that over a quarter (28%) of Britons say the previous Conservative government are most responsible for the issues around asylum seekers being housed in hotels, while one in five (19%) say the current Labour administration is most at fault.
Two in five (40%) Britons believe that the current Labour government and the previous Conservative administration are equally responsible.
Over half (57%) of people who voted for Reform UK at the last general election blame both equally:
Epping protesters and its council have 'led the way', says Robert Jenrick
06:30 , Alex RossShadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the people of Epping who protested outside the Bell Hotel, and its council have “led the way”.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said that “our country’s patience has snapped”.
It comes as a wave of fresh protests are expected this weekend outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Earlier this week, a judge granting Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction that blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.
The council had argued the injunction was needed amid “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” in connection with the hotel.
Mr Jenrick wrote: “People are utterly sick of being ignored by the establishment.And this time they are doing something about it.
“It’s heartening to see people from all backgrounds fighting back against a rotten status quo – and winning.
“As a result of their success the Home Office is now under immense pressure to deport those here illegally rather than managing failure by housing them across the country.”
People have ‘every right’ to protest asylum hotels – shadow home secretary
06:00 , Holly EvansPeople have “every right to engage in protest”, the shadow home secretary has said, amid concerns a High Court ruling could trigger a wave of demonstrations outside asylum hotels.
Chris Philp named three Conservative-led councils which are considering taking legal action against hoteliers whose property is being used to house asylum seekers.
His party’s leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Conservative council leaders “encouraging” them to follow Epping Forest District Council’s footsteps by launching bids to shut these hotels, if their “legal advice supports it”.
Read the full article here:
People have ‘every right’ to protest asylum hotels – shadow home secretary
Kemi Badenoch claims number of hotels halved under Tories
05:00 , Holly EvansConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has responded to the latest Home Office migration figures.
"Labour say the number of asylum hotels has halved. What they aren’t saying is all of that cut happened before the general election last year," she says. "If Labour had continued on that trajectory, there would be no asylum hotels today."
"Instead, progress has stopped. The number of asylum hotels has remained constant, the number of small boat arrivals has hit record highs, and they voted against our Deportation Bill that would bring in a proper deterrent and ensure we deported illegal arrivals asap."
Labour say the number of asylum hotels has halved. What they aren’t saying is all of that cut happened before the general election last year.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) August 21, 2025
If Labour had continued on that trajectory, there would be no asylum hotels today.
Instead, progress has stopped. The number of asylum… pic.twitter.com/7VBfede26l
Security minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
04:00 , Holly Evans
Security minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
How people in Epping reacted to closure of migrant hotel
03:00 , Holly EvansLocals in Epping have welcomed an injunction to block asylum seekers from being housed at a nearby hotel, but raised concerns the decision would only “kick the can down the road”.
Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary High Court injunction on Tuesday blocking asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
Several protests and counter-protests have been held in the town since Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a then-resident at the hotel, was charged with trying to kiss a teenage girl, which he denies.
Following the decision on Tuesday, a crowd of about a dozen people gathered outside the hotel brandishing flags, shouting “We’ve won” and popping sparkling wine, while passing traffic honked their horns at them.
Read the full article here:
What the UK’s migration numbers really show
02:00 , Holly EvansThe number of asylum seekers housed in government hotels has risen in the first year under Labour, piling further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to get a grip on the growing number of people making dangerous Channel crossings.
It follows a High Court ruling on Tuesday that banned the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, for asylum seekers after lawyers argued it had become a “feeding ground for unrest” following a string of violent protests at the site.
As Labour braces for a fresh round of legal action from revolting councils seeking similar bans in their areas, new Home Office figures reveal that the number of people claiming asylum in the past year soared to a record 111,000, while small boats continue to cross the Channel at increasing rates.
Read the full article here:
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council probes hotel being used for asylum seekers
01:00 , Holly EvansA local council in Northern Ireland has started a probe into a hotel being used to house asylum seekers.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council confirmed that an enforcement investigation has commenced.
It is understood it is into the legal planning status of the hotel in Co Antrim being used to house asylum seekers.
A council spokesperson said they have no further comment to make at this time.
Where asylum hotel protests are expected this weekend
Friday 22 August 2025 00:34 , Alex RossStand Up to Racism is preparing counter-protests to expected protests outside hotels across the country this weekend.
The group says it understands the protests are taking place in the following towns and cities:
Friday
Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, Leeds, Leicester, Orpington, Portsmouth
Saturday
Bristol, Cannock, Gloucester, Horley, Leicester, Liverpool, Long Eaton, Maidstone, Newcastle, Tamworth and Wakefield
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
Thursday 21 August 2025 23:00 , Holly EvansThe High Court’s ruling that asylum seekers must be moved out of the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, leaves Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, with a nasty headache. The small boats keep on coming and, under the law, asylum seekers must be housed somewhere while their cases are assessed.
The Home Office was behind the curve on the legal action by Tory-led Epping Forest District Council, issuing a last-minute plea to no avail. There is gloom among ministers, who fear a dangerous precedent has been set; they are privately bemused that the ruling was based on the hotel owner’s failure to obtain a change of use permission under planning regulations. Ministers fear this will encourage more protests outside other asylum hotels, creating an opening for the far right.
The ruling shines an unwelcome spotlight on the small boats crisis. In fact, the government has had a reasonable run on this nightmarish issue in recent weeks, announcing a series of initiatives in the fallow summer period, including the potentially game-changing “one in, one out” returns agreement with France.
Read the full analysis from Andrew Grice here:
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
Thursday 21 August 2025 22:00 , Holly EvansA High Court Judge ruled that asylum seekers can no longer be housed at a hotel in Epping that has been the site of multiple protests in recent weeks.
Epping Forest District Council won an interim injunction to stop asylum seekers being hosted at The Bell Hotel, saying it had become a “feeding ground for unrest.”
The judgement requires all migrants currently housed in the hotel – around 140 men as of last month – to leave by 4pm on 12 September.
Read the full article here:
As Epping case could bring hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
Manchester sees biggest rise in migrants being housed in hotels
Thursday 21 August 2025 21:21 , Holly EvansThe latest figures show that Manchester City Council was the local authority with the biggest numerical jump in people staying in hotels, from 874 at the end of March to 1,158 at the end of June.
This was followed by Birmingham City Council, which rose from 1,018 to 1,226 over the same period.
Both Warwick District Council and West Northamptonshire Council followed, seeing rises of 197 over the three-month period.
The former went from housing 168 asylum seekers in hotels to 365, while the latter saw a rise from 201 to 398.
Blackpool Borough Council had the same numerical rise as Epping Forest, both increasing by 171 people between March and June.
But the overall numbers for Blackpool are higher – housing 389 asylum seekers in hotels at the end of June, up from 218 at the end of March.
Anti-asylum hotel demonstrations to take place across UK
Thursday 21 August 2025 20:54 , Tom WatlingDemonstrations and counter-protests are expected to take place across the UK this weekend, with more than a dozen areas affected, The Independent understands.
A wave of protests are expected this weekend following the High Court ruling in favour of Epping Council blocking the use of The Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers.
It is understood that among the areas where demonstrations are due to take place are Chichester, Cannock, Wakefield and Tamworth, as well as Gloucester and Maidstone.
What next for social media ‘martyr’ Lucy Connolly after leaving prison?
Thursday 21 August 2025 20:50 , Tom Watling.jpeg?trim=0,66,0,65&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
What next for social media ‘martyr’ Lucy Connolly after leaving prison?
Recap: Asylum hotel numbers up 8% on last year under Labour
Thursday 21 August 2025 20:00 , Holly EvansThe number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has risen by 8% under Labour on the same point last year, according to newly published data.
The figures come just days after a court ruled that more than 100 asylum seekers currently staying at a hotel in Essex should be removed from the accommodation after a council brought a legal case.
The High Court judgment has led to ministers bracing for further legal challenges from councils across the country and pressure on the Government as to where else they can house asylum seekers.
Read the full story here:
Asylum hotel numbers up 8% on last year under Labour, Home Office figures show
People have ‘every right’ to protest asylum hotels – shadow home secretary
Thursday 21 August 2025 19:00 , Holly EvansPeople have “every right to engage in protest”, the shadow home secretary has said, amid concerns a High Court ruling could trigger a wave of demonstrations outside asylum hotels.
Chris Philp named three Conservative-led councils which are considering taking legal action against hoteliers whose property is being used to house asylum seekers.
His party’s leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Conservative council leaders “encouraging” them to follow Epping Forest District Council’s footsteps by launching bids to shut these hotels, if their “legal advice supports it”.
Read the full article here:
People have ‘every right’ to protest asylum hotels – shadow home secretary
Does Denmark hold the key to Britain’s asylum problem?
Thursday 21 August 2025 18:00 , Holly Evans“They’ve got to know that if they come here, they won’t stay here.” Nigel Farage? Robert Jenrick? Suella Braverman? Not on this occasion. These hostile words about refugees coming by irregular means to Britain were uttered on the BBC by a King’s Counsel, chum of Tony Blair, the former lord chancellor and impeccable social democrat Lord Falconer.
A pillar of the liberal establishment and still a senior and respected figure in Labour circles, Charlie Falconer is perhaps indicative of a shifting mood at the top of his party about how to deal with the migrant crisis – both in practical policy terms, and as it is currently translating into some pretty raw party politics.
As Falconer says, immigration, and specifically irregular so-called “illegal” migration is fast becoming a “defining political issue”. As he did not say, but heavily implied, it may also kill the first Labour government for 14 years long before its time.
Read the latest analysis from Sean O’Grady here:
Labour vows to increase removals of migrants
Thursday 21 August 2025 17:30 , Holly EvansThe Government has vowed to ramp up removals of migrants with no right to be in the UK to deter those coming or staying in the country illegally.
Of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel, some 569 people were returned in April-June this year.
This is down from 605 in the previous quarter, and is made up of both enforced and voluntary returns, where people who face deportation left of their own accord.
Some 2,330 migrants who arrived in small boats were returned during the year to June, down from 2,516 in the previous 12 months.
Of the 2,330 returns in the year to June, 75 per cent were Albanian nationals.
What has happened today?
Thursday 21 August 2025 17:00 , Holly Evans- Latest Home Office data shows the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has risen by 8 per cent under Labour on the same point last year.
- The figures come just days after a court ruled that more than 100 asylum seekers currently staying at a hotel in Essex should be removed from the accommodation after a council brought a legal case.
- The data shows there were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels by the end of June, up from 29,585 at the same point a year earlier, when the Conservatives were still in power.
- Government spending on asylum in the UK stood at £4.76 billion in 2024/25, down 12 per cent from a record £5.38 billion in 2023/24
Security minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
Thursday 21 August 2025 16:30 , Holly EvansSecurity minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
Epping asylum hotel numbers rose from 28 to 199 in three months
Thursday 21 August 2025 16:00 , Holly EvansA council at the centre of a legal case to block a hotel from housing asylum seekers was among the top 10 UK local authorities which saw the biggest rise in numbers staying in this kind of accommodation in recent months.
Epping Forest District Council in Essex went from housing 28 asylum seekers in hotels in its area in March this year, to 199 by the end of June.
The latest data breakdown, published by the Home Office on Thursday, comes two days after the council secured a High Court temporary injunction blocking the use of Epping’s Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers on planning grounds.
The legal case followed protests and counter-protests outside the Bell Hotel.
There were 124 local authorities across the UK housing asylum seekers in hotels at the end of June, according to the Home Office data.
This is around a third of all UK authorities.
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
Thursday 21 August 2025 15:36 , Holly EvansA High Court Judge ruled that asylum seekers can no longer be housed at a hotel in Epping that has been the site of multiple protests in recent weeks.
Epping Forest District Council won an interim injunction to stop asylum seekers being hosted at The Bell Hotel, saying it had become a “feeding ground for unrest.”
The judgement requires all migrants currently housed in the hotel – around 140 men as of last month – to leave by 4pm on 12 September.
Read the full article here:
As Epping case could bring hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
Labour MP condemns arson attack on building after speculation on social media
Thursday 21 August 2025 15:14 , Holly EvansLabour MP Oliver Ryan has condemned recent attacks on his constituents “for the colour of their skin” and an arson attack on a building that was falsely believed to be repurposed for asylum seekers.
The Burnley MP said: “Last night in Gannow, a building 100 metres from Whittlefield Primary was set on fire after online speculation and a Reform councillor said it was being converted into a HMO site, implying completely falsely that this is being used to house illegal migrants. It isn’t even applying to be a HMO but supported social housing.”
He continued: “I want to be clear despite Reform councillors praying for one and whipping up as much as they can, we don’t have any asylum hotels in the Burnley constituency.
“What we do have however, quite shamefully, is families and individuals being attacked in our area. British families and British individuals for the colour of their skin. I’ve been contacted by many of them, windows being put in on houses where people are assuming asylum seekers live.”
Things are getting serious now.
— Oliver Ryan MP (@OliverRyanUK) August 20, 2025
It's time for some facts about local Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and asylum hotels, to stop the nonsense. Lets have it right - concerns about illegal migration are valid, but people in our area are being targeted & its got to stop.
🧵 1/2 pic.twitter.com/BAKxVq6qK7
What the UK’s migration numbers really show
Thursday 21 August 2025 14:47 , Holly EvansThe number of asylum seekers housed in government hotels has risen in the first year under Labour, piling further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to get a grip on the growing number of people making dangerous Channel crossings.
It follows a High Court ruling on Tuesday that banned the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, for asylum seekers after lawyers argued it had become a “feeding ground for unrest” following a string of violent protests at the site.
As Labour braces for a fresh round of legal action from revolting councils seeking similar bans in their areas, new Home Office figures reveal that the number of people claiming asylum in the past year soared to a record 111,000, while small boats continue to cross the Channel at increasing rates.
Read the full analysis from our data correspondent Alicja Hagopian here:
Asylum seekers have right to privacy in their homes, council says
Thursday 21 August 2025 14:30 , Holly BancroftAsylum seekers have a human right to privacy in their homes, the City of York council has said as right-wing politicians call for protests outside of migrant hotels.
Reform MP Richard Tice yesterday urged local residents to protest outside asylum hotels.
Now Labour-led City of York council have said that allocation of asylum accommodation is up to central government, adding: “Asylum seekers also have a human right to privacy in their home and we wouldn’t release details relating to this, including whether any hotels are being used in our area.“
We are not progressing with any legal action relating to hotel accommodation.”
What options does the Home Office have now?
Thursday 21 August 2025 14:23 , Holly EvansLast month, amid protests outside the Bell Hotel and more migrants crossing the Channel, an extra 400 spaces were being prepared to house male asylum seekers at RAF Wethersfield in Essex.
The former military site, which has a usual capacity of 800 beds, is expected to house more adult men on a short-term basis.
The Labour Government scrapped the large site of the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, earlier this year, while Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, is also due to end housing asylum seekers and be returned to the Ministry of Defence in September.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
Thursday 21 August 2025 14:04 , Holly EvansAsylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation, known as contingency accommodation, if they are awaiting assessment of their claim or have had a claim approved and there is not enough longer-term accommodation available.
The Home Office provides accommodation to asylum seekers who have no other way of supporting themselves on a “no choice” basis, so they cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to accommodation such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.
In May, the National Audit Office said those temporarily living in hotels accounted for 35 per cent of all people in asylum accommodation.
‘Broken’ immgration system spilling over into tensions in NI, DUP minister says (adds par 6)
Thursday 21 August 2025 13:39 , Holly EvansThe UK’s “broken” immigration system is spilling over into tensions in communities in Northern Ireland, a Stormont minister has said.
Education Minister Paul Givan made the comments as unionist politicians have asked for further investigations into the legal planning status of hotels in the region housing asylum seekers.
Earlier this week Antrim and Newtownabbey Council said an enforcement investigation has begun into the legal planning status of the Chimney Corner Hotel in Co Antrim being used to house asylum seekers.
Unionist politicians have further raised concerns about the status of hotels within the Causeway Coast and Glens and Ards and North Down Borough Council areas.
DUP MLA Mr Givan said the UK Government had “failed Northern Ireland” over immigration.
He said: “The immigration system in the United Kingdom is broken, it has been a complete failure of the UK Government to protect the integrity of our borders.
“That is creating tensions within our communities. I think when people are in the country it is important that the rule of law is followed, we allow statutory authorities to deal with any issues.
“But when it comes to the actual immigration process, the UK Government is failing Northern Ireland, it is failing the United Kingdom as a whole. That does create tension, it creates pressures on our public services, within our housing system.”
Watch: Chris Philp challenged over Tory response to legal action on asylum hotels
Thursday 21 August 2025 13:15 , Holly Evans
Chris Philp challenged over Tory response to legal action on asylum hotels
‘Hypocritical’ Badenoch calls for Tory councils to launch legal challenges
Thursday 21 August 2025 13:00 , Holly EvansKemi Badenoch has been branded a “hypocrite” for calling for Conservative councils to challenge the use of so-called asylum hotels in their local areas.
The Tory leader said in a letter on Wednesday that she was “encouraging” councils to “take the same steps” as Epping Forest District Council “if your legal advice supports it”.
But the move has been criticised as “desperate and hypocritical nonsense”, given the Conservative’s own record with asylum hotels.
Read the full article here:
‘Hypocritical’ Badenoch calls for councils to launch challenges against asylum hotels
Explained: How much is the government paying to house asylum seekers in hotels?
Thursday 21 August 2025 12:30 , Holly EvansAnti-immigration protests have surged in recent weeks, with some targeting hotels used to house asylum seekers, sparking violence and prompting multiple arrests.
Amid the demonstrations, misleading claims about the cost of accommodating migrants have been spreading widely online.
But what does it actually cost to house asylum seekers in hotels — and how are false figures shaping public anger?
Read the full explainer here:
Explained: How much is the government paying to house asylum seekers in hotels?
Lib Dems accuse Labour of 'failing to get a grip on the crisis'
Thursday 21 August 2025 12:16 , Holly EvansResponding to this morning's immigration figures, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said that the government needed to "speed up asylum processing to bring down the backlog and end hotel use once and for all".
She added: "The Conservatives trashed our immigration system and let numbers spiral. Now this Labour government is failing to get a grip on the crisis".
Violence against women and girls 'hijacked by anti-migrant agenda'
Thursday 21 August 2025 11:55 , Holly EvansAmid hotel protests, campaigners including Rape Crisis and Refuge have warned conversations about violence against women and girls are being “hijacked by an anti-migrant agenda” which they argued fuels divisions and harms survivors.
More than 100 women’s organisations have written to ministers to say they “have been alarmed in recent weeks by an increase in unfounded claims made by people in power, and repeated in the media, that hold particular groups as primarily responsible for sexual violence”.
They added: “This not only undermines genuine concerns about women’s safety, but also reinforces the damaging myth that the greatest risk of gender-based violence comes from strangers.”
Reducing backlog is 'critical' to reducing use of hotels, says expert
Thursday 21 August 2025 11:44 , Holly EvansDr Nuni Jorgensen, researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: “Reducing the backlog in processing asylum claims is critical to any plan to reduce the use of contingency accommodation like hotels.
“Although the initial decision backlog is down since Labour came to office, a new backlog has built up in the courts due to appeals against unsuccessful decisions.
“The Government will be hoping that its enforcement activities and the new returns agreement with France will reduce the number of people applying for asylum and requiring accommodation, but there is no sign of this in the data so far.”
Stevenage Borough Council 'actively investigating' operation of asylum hotels in their area
Thursday 21 August 2025 11:29 , Holly BancroftStevenage Borough Council in Hertfordshire has said that it is studying the Epping hotel ruling "closely" to understand how it might impact asylum accommodation in their area.
A council spokesperson said: “The council takes breaches of planning control seriously and we’re actively investigating alleged breaches relating to the operation of hotels in Stevenage.
“We are studying the Epping and Somani Hotels Judgement closely to determine the implications this has for our own investigations.
“It is important that the council gathers all the facts before reaching any conclusion about the appropriate course of action it takes; this work is continuing at pace.”
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
Thursday 21 August 2025 11:12 , Holly EvansThe High Court’s ruling that asylum seekers must be moved out of the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, leaves Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, with a nasty headache. The small boats keep on coming and, under the law, asylum seekers must be housed somewhere while their cases are assessed.
The Home Office was behind the curve on the legal action by Tory-led Epping Forest District Council, issuing a last-minute plea to no avail. There is gloom among ministers, who fear a dangerous precedent has been set; they are privately bemused that the ruling was based on the hotel owner’s failure to obtain a change of use permission under planning regulations. Ministers fear this will encourage more protests outside other asylum hotels, creating an opening for the far right.
The ruling shines an unwelcome spotlight on the small boats crisis. In fact, the government has had a reasonable run on this nightmarish issue in recent weeks, announcing a series of initiatives in the fallow summer period, including the potentially game-changing “one in, one out” returns agreement with France.
Read the full analysis from Andrew Grice here:
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
Labour branded 'weak' over migration crisis by shadow home secretary
Thursday 21 August 2025 11:03 , Holly EvansShadow home secretary Chris Philp said Labour has “lost control of Britain’s borders” as he responded to new immigration statistics.
He said: “Labour has presided over the worst year on record for Channel crossings, with nearly 28,000 people already arriving illegally in 2025, up 47 per cent on last year and the highest figure ever recorded.
“At the same time, numbers in asylum hotels are back up to 32,059, higher than at the time of the election. Compare that to the nine months before the election, when the Conservatives cut numbers in hotels by 47 per cent and shut almost 200 sites. At our pace of closure, the hotels would already be gone, but numbers in hotels have gone up under Labour.
“Returns have gone down too and only 5 per cent of small boat arrivals are being removed. Without returns there is no deterrence, and without deterrence the boats will never stop.
“This is a migration crisis and the weak Labour Government is making it worse. More crossings, more migrants in hotels and fewer removals – Labour has lost control of Britain’s borders.
“Only the Conservatives have a plan to fix this by deporting every illegal arrival and sending the smugglers scurrying back into the shadows. But Labour voted against our measures to do this in Parliament just few weeks ago.”
Refugee Council hails faster asylum decision-making but warns of poor-quality decisions
Thursday 21 August 2025 10:48 , Holly EvansEnver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, has said that the government can be proud of the "genuine achievement" of bringing down the backlog of asylum claims.
However he warned that "this good work is being put at risk by poor-quality decisions", with "nearly half of appeals" succeeding.
He also repeated concerns about the use of asylum hotels, saying: "There's still far too many people in hotels. Everyone agrees that hotels are the wrong answer – they cost the taxpayer billions, trap people in limbo and are flashpoints in communities.
“Getting decisions right first time is vital so refugees who need protection can move out of hotels and start rebuilding in safety, while those who don’t have the right to stay can return with dignity and respect."
Yvette Cooper says Labour inherited a 'broken immigration and asylum system'
Thursday 21 August 2025 10:46 , Holly EvansThe Home Secretary has said the Government’s action to tackle the number of asylum seekers coming to the UK had been important steps to “restoring order”.
Responding to new immigration statistics, Yvette Cooper said Labour had overseen increased numbers of returns of failed asylum seekers and pointed to the reduced spending on asylum.
Ms Cooper said: “We inherited a broken immigration and asylum system that the previous government left in chaos. Since coming to office we have strengthened Britain’s visa and immigration controls, cut asylum costs and sharply increased enforcement and returns, as today’s figures show.
“The action we have taken in the last 12 months – increasing returns of failed asylum seekers by over 30 per cent, cutting asylum costs by 11 per cent, reducing the backlog by 18 per cent and our forthcoming plans to overhaul the failing asylum appeal system – are crucial steps to restoring order and putting an end to the chaotic use of asylum hotels that we inherited from the previous government.
“At the same time, we are bringing legal migration back under control, with a 48 per cent reduction in work visas this year – and further stronger visa controls and higher skill requirements introduced through our White Paper expected to bring those overall numbers down further.
“As we roll out further reforms, including the new pilot with France, new counter terror powers to strengthen border security and new asylum reforms later this year (including reforms to speed up the persistent delays in the appeals system), we will continue to take the serious steps required to restore order, control and fairness to the system, and to continue building the foundations of a new and stronger approach.”
Nigel Farage says public are 'right to be angry' with Labour and Tories
Thursday 21 August 2025 10:42 , Holly EvansNigel Farage said the public is right to be angry with the Government and their predecessors over the rise in asylum seekers being housed in hotels by the Government.
Responding to the figures, the Reform UK leader said: “Under Labour we now have record numbers claiming asylum. The vast majority should never qualify and most will cost the taxpayer a huge sum of money.
“Our streets are becoming more dangerous yet this disaster gets worse.
“The public are right to be very angry with both Labour and the Tories for what they have done to us.”
New figures out today show record numbers claiming asylum under Labour.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) August 21, 2025
Our streets are becoming more dangerous yet this disaster only gets worse.
The public are right to be very angry with this government.
Thousands of children crossing the Channel each year
Thursday 21 August 2025 10:39 , Holly EvansOver 5,000 children have made the dangerous Channel crossing in the year ending June 2025, analysis from charity Safe Passage has found.
Donna Covey, chief executive at the charity, added: "Over half of those children have had to make this dangerous journey alone. We work with unaccompanied children in Northern France who are simply trying to reach family, often the only family they have left."
