Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Tory local councils to take inspiration from the Epping legal ruling to launch challenges of their own against the use of asylum hotels.
The opposition leader said Epping Forest District Council had achieved “a victory for local people” after a High Court ruling blocked The Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers.
Following calls from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for his party’s councils to launch their own legal challenges, Ms Badenoch urged Tory councils to do the same.
In a letter to Conservative council leaders, Ms Badenoch wrote: “We back you to take similar action to protect your community... if your legal advice supports it.”
A Labour spokesperson described Ms Badenoch’s calls as “hypocritical” given the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels has dropped by 20,000 from an all-time high in 2023 under the previous Conservative government.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, Ms Badenoch’s former final counterpart in the Tory leadership race, offered to help any council seeking to mount a legal challenge in a video posted to social media earlier on Wednesday.
Key Points
- Labour in turmoil as more councils consider launching legal action to ban asylum seekers
- Chaos facing Starmer comes after Epping council wins temporary ban
- Farage calls for protests following Epping ruling
- The councils that have so far announced they are looking to take action after Epping ruling
- Analysis: Will the Epping hotel ruling open the doors for other councils?
- Data analysis: Fewer asylum seekers housed in hotels
How much is the government paying to house asylum seekers in hotels?
02:01 , Daniel KeaneSocial media posts and viral messages have claimed that housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the government between £200 and £500 per night. However, there is no evidence to support these figures.
The Home Office told The Independent that the Britannia Hotel costs £81 per night to house asylum seekers.
In March 2025, the average cost per night for a hotel room used to accommodate asylum seekers was £118.87 — down from £162.16 in March 2023. Across all hotels, this equates to around £5.77m per day, down from £8.3m per day the previous year.
Read our full story here.
How many asylum seekers are in UK hotels and why are they being housed there?
01:00 , Tom Watling
How many asylum seekers are in UK hotels and why are they being housed there?
Solving the asylum question is suddenly even more urgent
00:00 , Tom Watling
Jenrick reissues offer to help with asylum hotel claims
23:01 , Tom WatlingI’ve been overwhelmed by messages of support for Lawyers For Borders.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) August 20, 2025
If you need help, get in touch.
If you’re a lawyer and want to help secure our borders, contact me. https://t.co/3YPMfuo71m
Is Labour really failing on immigration and asylum hotels?
22:30 , Tom Watling
Scottish first minister hits back at Tory shadow minister Robert Jenrick
21:58 , Tom WatlingThe former first minister of Scotland has accused the Tories of “deliberately trying to fuel hatred” against asylum seekers by presenting them as a threat to women and children.
Humza Yousaf said politicians like Robert Jenrick were “reviving the old colonial lie that people from the east are somehow dangerous savages”.
Mr Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has said he supports “every peaceful protest outside an asylum hotel” and later attended one in Epping, where an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
In a video posted to social media, Mr Yousaf hit back at the Tory claims, saying it was “predatory men” who posed a danger to women, rather than people from any one group, such as asylum seekers.
It isn't asylum seekers I need to protect my daughters from, it is men.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 20, 2025
Predatory men, who come from all backgrounds & nationalities.
When Tories single out one group of men, but not others, it's obvious they don't care about women's safety, they just want to divide society. pic.twitter.com/GyTUCwAwka
Antrim and Newtownabbey Council probes hotel being used for asylum seekers
21:43 , Tom WatlingA 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.
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
21:16 , Tom Watling
Politicians making mischief over asylum hotels are in for an unwelcome surprise
Labour braced for wave of legal action over migrant hotels as immigration crisis deepens
20:46 , Tom WatlingRead our piece in full from all of today’s reaction to the High Court ruling in Epping.
Labour braced for wave of legal action over migrant hotels as crisis deepens
Southampton City Council considering options over asylum hotel closures
20:16 , Tom WatlingAnother Labour-run council, Southampton City, has added their voice to the string of local authorities saying they will consider their legal options in light of the Epping hotel ruling.
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: “We are carefully considering this judgment and the options available to us as a council. We recognise the challenges the government faces in managing the asylum process and will continue to work closely with the Home Office to support their ambition to close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, if not sooner, to ensure the best outcome for Southampton.”
Rushmoor Council 'keeping all options' open over asylum hotel closures
19:32 , Tom WatlingA spokesperson for Rushmoor borough council in Hampshire told The Independent that they were "keeping all options available to us on the table in light of the Epping judgement”.
They said: "We are carefully considering this judgment and keeping all options available to us on the table.
“We have already worked with the government to successfully close the asylum accommodation opened at Hillside Place in Farnborough, and we will continue to work closely with the Home Office to meet their ambition to close all asylum hotels as swiftly as possible and ensure the best outcome for Aldershot and Farnborough."
Wakefield Council calls for asylum hotels to be shut down
19:03 , Tom WatlingThe leader of Wakefield council, Cllr Denise Jeffrey, has said that the government must go "further and faster" to close asylum hotels.
She added: "We want asylum seekers to be provided with more appropriate accommodation so that Cedar Court hotel in Wakefield stops being used to house them. The Government should instead work with Councils, housing providers, and local communities to develop a comprehensive plan to meet their needs elsewhere.
“We’ve been raising concerns about this with the Home Office since early 2023. We’re now carefully considering the implications of the High Court ruling to award Epping Forest District Council an interim injunction. Wakefield will continue to put our local communities first in everything we do."
‘Short-term fix to a bigger crisis’: Readers react to Epping asylum hotel ruling
18:42 , Tom Watling
‘Short-term fix to a bigger crisis’: Readers react to Epping asylum hotel ruling
Newcastle City Council to fight asylum hotels without legal recourse
18:24 , Tom WatlingThe leader of Labour-run Newcastle City Council, Karen Kilgour, said it will not take legal action over asylum seekers who are housed in hotels in the city.
She said: “Our position remains unchanged. We strongly oppose the use of hotels as accommodation for people seeking asylum.
“They are not appropriate or sustainable, either for the individuals involved or for the local community.
“As I have previously said, we are in active discussions with the Home Office around how the council can take greater control in the placement of asylum seekers in the city, while ending the use of hotels.
“We are confident we can achieve this without the need to seek an injunction.
“We recognise that people seeking asylum include families, women, and children, many of whom have faced unimaginable trauma. Newcastle has a proud history of offering sanctuary, and we stand ready to play our part – but it must be done in a way that works for our city and supports the dignity and wellbeing of those who come here.”
So, where will we put asylum seekers now courts have backed the ‘not in my backyarders’?
18:00 , Tom WatlingWhat is the message that comes from the High Court’s decision to back Epping Forest Council’s petition to close the Bell Hotel, which has been used to accommodate people seeking asylum?
It is not, as has been propagandised, that the establishment judges – who, it turns out, are not “enemies of the people” after all – listened with sympathy to the cries of the mums and nans demonstrating outside the hotel and begging for protection for their kids (after one of the people in the hotel was arrested and then charged with a sexual assault). The High Court didn’t take a view on that.
So, where will we put asylum seekers now courts have backed the Nimbys?
Brighton and Hove says it remains a 'proud city of sanctuary' for asylum seekers
17:41 , Tom WatlingBrighton and Hove City Council has said that as a “proud city of sanctuary” it will continue to welcome and support asylum seekers.
Jacob Taylor, the local authority’s deputy leader, said: “As a proud city of sanctuary we will always play our role in housing asylum seekers and providing a welcome and support to those fleeing persecution and horrific circumstances which many of us can thankfully only imagine.
“We will not comment on the location of hotels being used by the Home Office to provide temporary accommodation to people seeking asylum.
“I believe to do so in the current climate is irresponsible and risks causing division and unrest in our communities at a time when more than ever we need to bring people together.”
Jenrick: Contact me if you want help submitting a claim against aslyum hotels
17:12 , Tom WatlingShadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has offered his services to any council or community member that wants to launch their own legal challenge to the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
You can watch the full video below.
What a result for the people of Epping.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) August 20, 2025
What now?
More peaceful protests. More injunctions. If any council wants legal help, get in touch.
Starmer will only respond to pressure. pic.twitter.com/7PEAQBtiiO
Wirral Council considering High Court ruling after demonstrations
16:51 , Tom WatlingA spokesman for Labour-run Wirral Council, where there have been demonstrations outside the former Holiday Inn Express in Hoylake, said: “We will be considering the detail of the judgment and how it might impact on planning consent for the proposed use of the former hotel in Hoylake.”
Kent County Council seeking information on all asylum hotels in 12 districts
16:33 , Tom WatlingReform UK council leader Linden Kemkaran says she will write to Kent’s district and borough councils to ask if they have “similar facilities” to Epping Forest.
Ms Kemkaran, leader of Kent County Council (KCC) acknowledged that planning and housing decisions are not county council matters, but wants to “support” the district and borough councils in Kent.
She told the PA news agency: “Following the recent High Court ruling granting an interim injunction to Epping Forest District Council, I am writing to all my fellow Leaders in Kent’s 12 districts and boroughs to ask them about any similar facilities operating in their individual areas and the history of planning permissions for these.
“For nearly a decade now, Kent has been on the front line of the migrant crisis. The Government’s lack of a plan to deal with it successfully is putting an unreasonable and unsustainable strain on our already vastly overstretched public services.
“We will continue to support our district and borough councils and write to Government about the impact of these facilities on our residents and urge them for greater transparency and appropriate action.”
Tamworth council considered legal avenue last year against asylum hotel
16:17 , Tom WatlingLabour councillor Carol Dean, leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said the council did explore similar legal avenues when the Home Office first started using the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth to house asylum seekers, but did not end up pursuing them.
The Holiday Inn Express was the scene of large riots last year following stabbings in Southport, a two-hour drive north of Tamworth.
Ms Dean said: “I want to be transparent with our community – when the Home Office first began using the hotel in 2022, we did explore similar legal avenues. However, we did not pursue this route at the time because temporary injunctions, while initially granted in other cases nationally, were not ultimately upheld by the courts.
“The situation at Epping Forest represents a potentially important legal precedent, and we are carefully assessing what this might mean for our circumstances here in Tamworth.
“We fully recognise the UK Government has a statutory duty to accommodate people seeking asylum. However, we have consistently maintained that the prolonged use of hotel accommodation may not represent the best approach – either for our local community or for the asylum seekers themselves.
“We will continue to work constructively with government departments and all relevant agencies while making sure the voice of our community is heard at the highest levels of government. We will keep residents informed of any developments and will make further announcements as our legal review progresses.
“Our priority remains ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all people in Tamworth, while working towards a sustainable long-term solution that serves everyone’s interests.”
Tamworth council leader says High Court ruling sets 'important precedent'
16:01 , Tom WatlingA council leader in Tamworth, which was the scene of disorder following the Southport stabbings last year, said Tuesday’s High Court ruling to remove asylum seekers from a hotel in Essex represents a “potentially important legal precedent”.
Hundreds of protesters descended on the Holiday Inn Express in Tamworth in August last year as missiles including fireworks, a petrol bomb, bricks, chunks of concrete and lampposts were hurled at the hotel and Staffordshire Police officers.
Labour councillor Carol Dean, leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said she understands the “strong feelings within our community regarding the use of the Holiday Inn to house those seeking asylum”.
She said: “I want to reassure residents that we are listening to their concerns and taking them seriously.
“Nationally Labour came to power just over a year ago. The use of hotels has halved from 402 at their peak to 210 now, with a national pledge to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.
“However, following the temporary High Court injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council, we are closely monitoring developments and reviewing our legal position in light of this significant ruling.”
Spelthorne vows it 'will not give up' in pursuing legal action
15:45 , Tara CobhamSpelthorne Borough Council has vowed it “will not give up” as it pursues “every legal and strategic option available”.
In a statement issued today, the council said: “Spelthorne Borough Council remains resolute in its opposition to the Home Office's recent decision to change the use of the Stanwell Hotel from housing families and single women to accommodating single adult males only.
“In response to this change, the Council acted swiftly to obtain legal advice regarding the potential for enforcement action on planning grounds. The Council is now working closely with legal counsel in light of the recent High Court ruling on the Bell Hotel in Epping Forest, which may have significant implications for the situation in Stanwell.
“The Council is also continuing to press the Home Office for a formal response to previous correspondence and is urging immediate and meaningful engagement.”
Cllr Joanne Sexton, Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, added: "We will not give up. This decision by the Home Office is deeply concerning and was made without proper consultation or consideration of the local community. Our priority is, and always will be, the wellbeing of our residents and protecting Stanwell. We are pursuing every legal and strategic option available to us, and we call on the Home Office to respond urgently and engage constructively."
South Norfolk Council issue enforcement notice on asylum hotel in area
15:30 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
South Norfolk Council have issued an enforcement notice on the asylum hotel in their area. The hotel owners were served with the order on 8 August, requiring the owners to put in a planning application for a change of use.
In the Epping case, the hotel's owners Somani Hotels Ltd failed to apply for a change of use, leading to Epping Forest District Council taking action against them for a breach of planning permission.
Solihull Council also considers implications of Epping judgement
15:15 , Tara CobhamSolihull Council is also considering the implications of the Epping judgement.
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “Once the full details are published, we will be able to consider what this might mean for Solihull Council and if there are any implications for the hotel in Solihull.”
Wirral council to consider options as Home Office intends to use former hotel for single male asylum seekers
15:00 , Rebecca WhittakerWirral council have said that they are considering their options after the Home Office informed them that a former hotel in their area will soon be used to house single male asylum seekers.
The former hotel is currently being used to house asylum seeking families and no planning consent has been brought to change the use of the hotel, the council said.
The Home Office informed the council at the end of June that they plan on relocating the families and using the building for asylum seeking men instead.
Reacting to Epping Forest Council's victory at the High Court, a spokesperson for Wirral council said: "We will be considering the detail of the judgement and how it might impact on planning consent for the proposed use of the former hotel in Hoylake".
Farage calls for protests following Epping ruling
14:44 , Tara CobhamReform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for protests following the Epping ruling.
Mr Farage wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “Now, the good people of Epping must inspire similar protests around Britain.
“Wherever people are concerned about the threat posed by young undocumented males living in local hotels and who are free to walk their streets, they should follow the example of the town in Essex.
“Let’s hold peaceful protests outside the migrant hotels, and put pressure on local councils to go to court to try and get the illegal immigrants out; we now know that together we can win.”
'We strongly oppose the use of hotels as accommodation for people seeking asylum,' says Newcastle City councillor
14:30 , Rebecca WhittakerCouncillor Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: “We are aware of the High Court injunction granted in Epping regarding the use of a hotel to house asylum seekers.
“Our position remains unchanged. We strongly oppose the use of hotels as accommodation for people seeking asylum. They are not appropriate or sustainable, either for the individuals involved or for the local community.
“As I have previously said, we are in active discussions with the Home Office around how the council can take greater control in the placement of asylum seekers in the city, while ending the use of hotels.
“We are confident we can achieve this without the need to seek an injunction.We recognise that people seeking asylum include families, women, and children, many of whom have faced unimaginable trauma.
“Newcastle has a proud history of offering sanctuary, and we stand ready to play our part – but it must be done in away that works for our city and supports the dignity and wellbeing of those who come here.”
Parliament 'needs to make clear what you can do in terms of detaining people and not'
14:24 , Rebecca WhittakerFormer Home Office minister Damien Green has said the Government needs to “see if there are legal issues that need to be taken on by legislation” regarding the use of camps to house asylum seekers.
The former Conservative MP told the BBC’s World At One that Parliament “needs to make clear what you can do in terms of detaining people and not”.
When asked whether asylum seekers should be detained in camps, he said: “I mean, let’s check on them for a few days to check whether there are any criminal records or not, some of them will have criminal records.
“I think I agree you can’t just lock people up.”
Mr Green added that the UK needs to appear less welcoming to illegal migrants as the use of hotels is an “attraction factor”.
He said: “You need to have an all systems approach, where you don’t appear to be particularly welcoming. And I think our traditional welcome should not apply to people who are coming over in the boats.”
Minister brands Farage ‘the very worst’ kind of politician over asylum hotel claims
14:15 , Tara CobhamSecurity minister Dan Jarvis said he believes “the very worst politicians” try to drive people apart, when asked on Sky News about Nigel Farage’s opinion piece in the Telegraph on Wednesday about hotels housing asylum seekers.
Mr Jarvis said: “I haven’t read Mr Farage’s op-ed, but I’ve always thought that the best politicians try and bring people together, and the very worst politicians try and drive them apart.”
When asked whether the Government plans to appeal against the High Court’s decision on the hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, Mr Jarvis said: “Well, we’ll see where we get to with that specific decision. We’re looking very closely at it.
“The bigger issue is how we can tackle the asylum backlog. We inherited a very significant backlog from the previous government who effectively stopped processing asylum claims.
“That’s why we rediverted the resources that had been put in place for Rwanda to ensure that we can process asylum claims much more quickly than was previously the case.
“And I think the rate of processing is up by 116 per cent, we’ve returned 35,000 people over the last year who don’t have a right to be here.”
The Government should 'go back to the idea of camps', says Damian Green
14:05 , Rebecca WhittakerConservative former Home Office minister Damian Green has said the Government should “go back to the idea of camps” for housing asylum seekers.
Mr Green, who lost his seat in the general election last year, told the World At One: “What they should now do is actually toughen up the accommodation that we offer people to make it clear that it’s a deterrent as much as anything.
“So, go back to the idea of camps, whether purpose-built Nightingale Hospital-style buildings on parts of the land that the Government owns, or using existing military camps, all those sorts of things, so that is not seen as offensively luxurious by the people who have watched this happen in their communities over the past few years.”
When he was asked about the “difficulties” that have been run into when this has been attempted before, for example at Napier barracks, RAF Scampton, Wethersfield and the Penally camp, he said: “Some of them were genuine, some of them weren’t.
“A lot of the problems are indeed legal problems, where the courts say you can’t keep people there. And I do think the Government is going to have to confront the legal issue if they want to be effective in having a deterrent.”
Security minister says government 'not paying' Iraq for new migrant returns deal
14:00 , Tara CobhamSecurity minister Dan Jarvis has said the government is “not paying” Iraq for its new migrant returns deal, but had offered “specific financial support” to help the country tackle people-smuggling.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Jarvis said: “We have a good and constructive relationship with the Iraqis and there are a number of areas, both in terms of security but also serious organised crime, where we’re seeking to co-operate – defence is another one.”
The minister added: “We’re not paying them. When the Home Secretary was there at the back end of last year, there was some specific financial support that we provided to enable certain activity around targeting the smuggling networks.”
On the government’s plans following the High Court ruling that asylum seekers be removed from the Bell Hotel in Essex, Mr Jarvis said: “We are in the process of identifying contingency options for what’s going to happen to those people who are currently accommodated in that hotel in Epping.
When pressed on the details of these contingency options, he said: “With respect, the legal judgment was only handed down yesterday.”
Philp calls for assurances asylum seekers won't be moved into flats 'sorely needed by young people'
13:45 , Tara CobhamShadow home secretary Chris Philp has told Yvette Cooper that flats are “sorely needed by young people”, as he called for assurances asylum seekers will not be moved from Epping’s Bell Hotel into apartments.
In his letter to the Home Secretary, the Conservative MP wrote: “Up and down the country people are furious about the number of illegal migrants being housed in hotels – which rose in the nine months following the election under Labour.
“People are also concerned that you are now moving people from hotels into apartments and other accommodation which is sorely needed by young people here who are struggling under this Labour government.”
Mr Philp also claimed that “illegal immigrants housed in hotels have been charged with hundreds of crimes”.
Following the ruling in Epping and the ongoing migrant crisis I have written to Yvette Cooper calling for:
— Chris Philp MP (@CPhilpOfficial) August 20, 2025
1. An emergency cabinet meeting (they had one for recognising Palestine recently) to bring forward plans for the immediate deportation of all illegal immigrants upon… https://t.co/Z3CBzZb9eI pic.twitter.com/sSNeHD31VP
Shadow home secretary calls for emergency cabinet meeting over illegal migrant deportations
13:30 , Tara CobhamThe shadow home secretary has called for an emergency cabinet meeting “to establish plans for the deportation of all illegal immigrants upon arrival”.
In a letter to home secretary Yvette Cooper, Chris Philp wrote: “This migration crisis has happened because you made the catastrophic decision the cancel the Rwanda deterrent just before it was due to start, with no replacement plan.
“The Rwanda scheme would have seen every illegal immigrant deported upon arrival and made it impossible to claim asylum if you entered the UK illegally.
The Conservative politician added: “Given this crisis unfolding on your watch and the concern about where the Epping migrants will go, will you:
“Hold an emergency Cabinet meeting to establish plans for the deportation of all illegal immigrants upon arrival and to resolve the migrant crisis you have created – just as the government recently held an emergency cabinet meeting on recognising Palestine.
“Commit that none of the illegal immigrants currently in the Bell Hotel will be moved into hotels, HMOs (houses in multiple occupation), apartments, or social housing which are much needed for British people.
“The previous government established alternative accommodation on current or former military sites and an accommodation barge, which are all alternative options while deportation plans are put in place.”
Not all councils will consider legal action
13:15 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
An alternative view from Gravesham borough council who have said that while they do have one hotel housing asylum seekers in the area they have no current plans to apply to the courts for an interim injunction.
Many councils who do have asylum seekers housed in their area will also be in this position, and each decision to challenge or not challenge a migrant hotel will be location specific. These applications can be costly, might not be successful, and many local residents may be happy to house asylum seekers in their regions.
Full story: Labour faces migrant hotel chaos as more councils consider launching legal action to ban asylum seekers
13:00 , Tara CobhamSir Keir Starmer faces a slew of legal challenges over the government’s use of asylum hotels after a council was granted a temporary injunction blocking migrants from being housed there.
Epping Forest District Council won an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel, arguing it had become a “feeding ground for unrest” in recent weeks after a series of violent protests resulted in multiple arrests and saw police officers injured.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper made a last-minute attempt on Tuesday to halt their removal, arguing that other councils would make similar applications for migrant accommodation in their areas.
My colleagues Tom Watling and Archie Mitchell report:
Asylum hotel chaos looms for Starmer councils to consider launching legal challenges
Council which stands 'strongly against' asylum hotels to take 'appropriate action'
12:45 , Tara CobhamA council which stands “strongly against” the use of asylum hotels said it “will take appropriate action” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling to remove asylum seekers from a hotel in Essex.
Craig Leyland, the leader of East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire, said: “We have always been clear to the Government that we stand strongly against the use of hotels in our district by the Home Office for those seeking asylum. We now only have one hotel in such use.”
The Conservative councillor added: “I have followed the case by Conservative-run Epping Forest District Council and yesterday’s judgment with great interest.
“I have asked officers to investigate and understand this case and will take appropriate action once we understand if there are any similarities that we can act on.”
Another council assessing legal options after Epping case victory
12:30 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
Hillingdon council, which has the highest number of asylum seekers housed in accommodation of any London local authority, is looking to see if they can take legal action following Epping's victory in the courts. The council has previously raised concerns with the Home Office about the number of homeless asylum seekers being evicted from hotels in the area.
Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said: “Our Head of Legal will be reviewing the interim judgement to determine if a similar case can be brought in Hillingdon. We need to understand fully why the Epping case has succeeded, where others previously failed, before we can determine if those differentiating circumstances also apply in Hillingdon.”
Data analysis: Low number of asylum seekers in hotels relative to population
12:15 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
Across the UK, the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels amounts to just five people per 10,000 in the population.
Just 1 in 3 asylum seekers are housed in hotels, with the majority in other forms of accommodation rented or arranged by the council.
In Wales, hotels accommodate fewer than 100 asylum seekers.
Hotels in London house over 12,000 asylum seekers, more than anywhere else in the country.
But this amounts to just 14 people per 10,000 due to the capital’s large population.
Councils in Staffordshire exploring options in light of Epping ruling
11:45 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
Councils in Staffordshire have announced they are exploring options in light of the Epping ruling.
Ian Cooper, Leader of Staffordshire County Council said: “We welcome this ruling and will be in contact with our district and borough council partners to explore what options this now gives us in Staffordshire. The control and protection of our country’s borders is a national issue, but the impact of central government policy is felt in communities across Staffordshire.
“I have already written to the Home Secretary on this issue, stating that the ongoing use of hotels for the purpose of asylum is unacceptable and poses a serious risk to local communities as well as the residents themselves.”
The councils that have so far announced they are looking to take action after Epping ruling
11:41 , Tara Cobham- Broxbourne Council’s leader has pledged it will “go down the same path as Epping” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling. Corina Gander, leader of the council in Hertfordshire, said a hotel housing asylum seekers in the town of Cheshunt puts “an enormous strain on local services”.
- Councils in Staffordshire have announced they are exploring options in light of the Epping ruling. Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, added that he has already written to the home secretary on this “unacceptable” issue.
- Leader of West Northamptonshire Council Mark Arnull said he is “looking at the options now available” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling. He described the current use of three hotels for asylum accommodation as “an unreasonable and unsustainable strain”. The Reform UK councillor added that he has raised these issues with the home office and written to the deputy prime minister.
- Hillingdon council, which has the highest number of asylum seekers housed in accommodation of any London local authority, is looking to see if they can take legal action following Epping's victory in the courts. The council has previously raised concerns with the Home Office about the number of homeless asylum seekers being evicted from hotels in the area.
- East Lindsey District Council “will take appropriate action” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling to remove asylum seekers from a hotel in Essex. Leader Craig Leyland said the council stands “strongly against” the use of asylum hotels.
- South Norfolk Council have issued an enforcement notice on the asylum hotel in their area. The hotel owners were served with the order on 8 August, requiring the owners to put in a planning application for a change of use. In the Epping case, the hotel's owners Somani Hotels Ltd failed to apply for a change of use, leading to Epping Forest District Council taking action against them for a breach of planning permission.
- Newcastle City Council said they are in talks with the home office on ending the use of asylum hotels. Leader Karen Kilgour said they “strongly oppose” the use of hotels to house asylum-seekers, describing the sites as “not appropriate or sustainable”.
- Wirral council have said that they are considering their options after the Home Office informed them that a former hotel in their area will soon be used to house single male asylum seekers. The former hotel is currently being used to house asylum seeking families and no planning consent has been brought to change the use of the hotel, the council said.
- Solihull Council also said it is considering the implications of the Epping judgement for the hotel in its area.
- Councillor Carol Dean, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, in Tamworth, Staffordshire, where violence broke out against asylum seekers in hotels last year, has said that they are reviewing legal options in light of the Epping High Court ruling.
- Spelthorne Borough Council has said it is “pursuing every legal and strategic option available” to challenge the home office’s recent decision to change the use of a hotel from housing families and single women to accommodating single adult men only. Describing the move as “deeply concerning”, leader Joanne Sexton vowed: “We will not give up.”
Government is looking at contigency options for housing asylum seekers, security minister says
11:30 , Tara CobhamSecurity minister Dan Jarvis has said the government is looking at contingency options for where to house asylum seekers after a court ruled on Tuesday that they cannot live in a hotel in Epping, Essex.
He told Times Radio: “We’re looking at a range of different contingency options following from a legal ruling that took place yesterday, and we’ll look closely at what we’re able to do.”
Asked whether other hotels housing asylum seekers have the proper planning permission, Mr Jarvis said: “Well, we’ll see over the next few days and weeks.
“Other local authorities will be considering whether they wish to act in the same way that Epping (Forest) District Council have.
“I think the important point to make is that nobody really thinks that hotels are a sustainable location to accommodate asylum seekers.
“That’s precisely why the Government has made a commitment that, by the end of this Parliament, we would have phased out the use of them.”
Council leader dealing with 'unsustainable strain' of asylum hotels now exploring options
11:15 , Tara CobhamThe leader of a council dealing with “an unreasonable and unsustainable strain” from asylum accommodation is “looking at the options now available” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling to remove asylum seekers from one Essex hotel.
Leader of West Northamptonshire Council Mark Arnull said in a statement: “We have always been clear with the government and the public that the current use of three hotels in West Northamptonshire have never been suitable locations for asylum accommodation and place an unreasonable and unsustainable strain on our already-stretched local services.”
The Reform UK councillor added: “We also know these hotels cause concerns for our communities and I have raised these issues with the Home Office and written to the Deputy Prime Minister about the wider use of asylum accommodation within our community.
“We are currently considering the implications of this judgment to understand any similarities and differences and are actively looking at the options now available to us.
“As such I am unable to comment further at this stage but will issue a further update when able to do so.
“In the meantime, we will continue to work with partners in the police and in our communities to make sure that residents’ concerns are heard and addressed.”
Data analysis: Government has cut spending on asylum seeker hotels
11:00 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
Home Office accounts show that the government slashed the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels last year, spending £2.1bn.
This is a £1bn (32 per cent) drop from 2023/4, when costs climbed to £3.1bn.
However, asylum housing costs come from the UK’s foreign aid budget, which has faced significant cuts this year.
The Foreign Office's aid budget is at £8.7bn for 2025/6, while £2.2bn has been budgeted to cover hotel bills for asylum seekers.
Watch: Security minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
10:45 , Tara Cobham
Security minister refuses multiple times to outline alternative to asylum hotels
Council trying to ban asylum hotel pledges to 'go down same path as Epping'
10:30 , Tara CobhamA council trying to stop a hotel housing asylum seekers has said it will “go down the same path as Epping” after Tuesday’s High Court ruling.
Corina Gander, leader of Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire, said a hotel in the town of Cheshunt puts “an enormous strain on local services”.
“We are going to be looking at the ruling of Epping yesterday and we will be expecting to go down the same path as Epping,” the Conservative councillor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Ms Gander said her council previously tried to get legal advice to block the hotel, but had not been successful.
“What Epping have done is they have really set a precedent for local councils,” she added.
Watch: Protesters gather outside the Bell Hotel in Epping after injunction blocks housing of asylum seekers
10:15 , Tara CobhamData analysis: Fewer asylum seekers housed in hotels
10:03 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian reports:
Despite criticism, the government is housing fewer asylum seekers in hotel accommodation, latest figures show.
Some 32,000 asylum seekers were held in hotels earlier this year, according the Migration Observatory.
This is far from the peak of 56,000 in the third quarter of 2023, under the Conservative government.
Labour in turmoil as more councils consider launching legal action to ban asylum seekers
10:02 , Tara CobhamSir Keir Starmer faces a slew of legal challenges over the government’s use of asylum hotels after a council was granted a temporary injunction blocking migrants from being housed there.
After Epping Forest District Council won an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel, Labour is now bracing for dozens of local authorities to challenge the use of asylum hotels in their areas on similar grounds.
Home Office lawyers have warned that the decision could “substantially impact” the government’s use of the accommodation.
Analysis: Will the Epping hotel ruling open the doors for other councils?
09:58 , Tara CobhamThe Independent’s social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft reports:
The Home Office have warned that Epping Forest council’s hotel injunction will lead to similar applications made elsewhere “aggravating the pressures on the asylum estate” - and so far several councils have announced their intention to challenge hotels in their area.
But how will this work in practice?
The interim injunction granted to Epping council rested on the fact that the owners of The Bell Hotel had not made a planning application to change the use of the hotel when they started housing asylum seekers there. The council successfully argued that the site was essentially no longer a hotel, and therefore it was likely there was a breach of the planning process.
According to court documents, the hotel’s owners had been advised by the Home Office that “in the government’s opinion the hotel is contracted on exclusive use terms as a hotel, not a hostel, and so they do not support a change of use application”. In other words, Home Office officials apparently advised it was still in use as a hotel and so a planning application wasn’t necessary.
A judge has now ruled that there is a strong argument against this. If other councils want to follow in Epping’s footsteps they will have to be in the same position e.g. there is an asylum hotel in their area that has not applied for a change of use.
In the case of Conservative-led Broxbourne council, councillors believe this is the case for a hotel in the town of Cheshunt.
Chaos facing Starmer comes after Epping council wins temporary ban
09:56 , Tara CobhamThe chaos facing Sir Keir Starmer comes after Epping Forest District Council won an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel.
The council successfully argued the site had become a “feeding ground for unrest” in recent weeks after a series of violent protests resulted in multiple arrests and saw police officers injured.
