The High Court’s landmark ruling on an Essex hotel housing asylum seekers is set to be appealed by the Home Office, a Minister has confirmed.
If the Government’s legal appeal is rejected, migrants currently housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping could be evicted within weeks.
Earlier this week a High Court judge granted an injunction to the local council after the town hall successfully argued the premises was breaching planning laws.
The Home Office will seek to appeal against the High Court's refusal to allow it to intervene in the case.
On Friday, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the move, which if successful would open the way for a wider appeal against a temporary injunction blocking the Government from using the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation.
“This Government will close all asylum hotels and we will clear up the mess that we inherited from the previous government,” he said.
“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.”
The High Court granted Epping Forest District Council the temporary injunction on Tuesday. It blocks asylum seekers from being housed in the hotel from September 12.
The local authority had sought legal action after the accommodation was at the centre of multiple protests in recent weeks following an asylum seeker being charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He has denied the charges.
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 migrants in the short period would cause “particular acute difficulties” for the Government, but their bid was dismissed.
Since the injunction was granted, councils across the country controlled by Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK are investigating whether they could also pursue legal challenges against asylum hotels.
A wave of protests outside hotels used to temporarily house asylum seekers is expected in the coming days.
Two are being staged by a group of protesters known as the Pink Ladies in London – one in Cheshunt on Friday night and another in Canary Wharf on Sunday.
Nearly 30 protests are reportedly taking place over the next three days with demonstrations planned from Aberdeen to Exeter.
Stand Up To Racism is preparing to hold counter-protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers on Friday, including in Bournemouth, Cardiff and Leeds, with further demonstrations expected on Saturday.
