Former PMs and home secretaries may face inquiry over Manston asylum centre
An inquiry into what happened at Manston has just begun and is headed by an independent senior barrister - but she does not have powers to compel people to give evidence. Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak may have to give evidence, as may former home secretaries Dame Priti Patel, Suella Braverman and Grant Shapps.During 2022, the Home Office took over the former military facility near Ramsgate to help it cope with the number of migrants arriving in the UK in small boats and claiming asylum. By late summer it was overcrowded and at one point held around 4,000 people - three times more than its capacity.At one point the crisis was so bad that the then home secretary Braverman was publicly fending off claims in Parliament that she had mishandled what to do with the arriving migrants.Weeks later, Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, 31, died in hospital after seemingly contracting diphtheria at the centre, although it was not established if that was the cause of his death.Earlier this year a legal hearing relating to Manston and the scope of the inquiry revealed the existence of a document listing all the allegations of potential failures. A High Court judge then ordered its disclosure to BBC News, the Guardian and the Independent.
The briefing note, prepared for the current Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, sets out "incidents and allegations" at Manston between June and November 2022. "The list... includes a death in custody, unlawful detention of adults and children, and Home Office officials charged with conspiracy to steal and misconduct in public office," it says."Allegations raised include misfeasance in public office, breaches of the European Convention of Human Rights, breaches of... duties to safeguard children, breaches of the Short-Term Holding Facility Rules, breaches of planning permission, and breaches of health, safety, fire, and food safety regulations."The investigation of the conditions at Manston will probably be reputationally damaging for the Home Office."The document details the number of people who may have to give evidence."The list of key individuals will include three former Home Secretaries (Rt Hon Dame Priti Patel MP, Rt Hon Suella Braverman MP, and Rt Hon Grant Shapps)," it says.
"External decision makers ultimately influencing the Manston operating model include the former Prime Minister (Rt Hon Boris Johnson), the former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, MP), and the former Secretary of State for Defence (Rt Hon Ben Wallace)."Five further former immigration ministers and Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office's former permanent secretary, may also need to give evidence.The Home Office and other government departments are expected to provide legal advice to all the former ministers.A spokesperson said that it would be inappropriate to comment further on the inquiry while it was ongoing.
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The Independent
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The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
A 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. The Home Office is responsible for asylum and protection in the UK, and must now find somewhere else for these people to go. Reacting to the ruling, it warned it would 'substantially impact' its ability to house asylum seekers across the UK. Home secretary Yvette Cooper had unsuccessfully attempted to have the council's case dismissed shortly before the ruling. Other councils have also shown an interest in following suit in the wake of the ruling. However, none have initiated legal proceedings similar to Epping. 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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. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at Refugee Council said: 'Asylum hotels have become a flashpoint for tension in communities, cost billions to the taxpayer, and leave people trapped in limbo. Ending their use is in everyone's interest, but the Government's current plan to phase them out by 2029 is far too slow. We need to reform the accommodation system so that councils can house people in the community.' Housing Moving more asylum seekers into houses or flats is one possible alternative to the use of hotels. These could be provided by private landlords or social housing groups. Around 66,000 migrants were housed in these kind of properties by the end of December 2024, compared to 38,000 in hotels at the same time. The main criticism of this approach is that it will add more demand onto the UK's already stretched housing industry. In the private sector, rising rents are making living costs unaffordable for many households. Moving more asylum seekers into these properties – funded by the government – may push up rental prices further and create less availability for UK residents. However, housing more asylum seekers in social housing would possibly create issues for residents who are struggling most in that local authority. The waiting list for council housing reached over 300,000 in 2024 – if more migrants are moved into social housing, the already-long wait times may increase further. Mr Hussain said: 'Housing people in communities is cheaper and more effective than hotels or military sites. Local authorities already manage housing for other groups and know their local areas best, so they're well placed to provide accommodation.' 'Ultimately, the only way to end hotel use for good is to resolve asylum applications quickly and accurately so people can either rebuild their lives here or return home with dignity. This will cut costs and allow refugees to integrate into their new communities, contribute, and play their part in Britain.' Military bases and boats Military bases have been used to accommodate asylum seekers in the past, but their use attracted widespread criticism. In 2022, the Conservative government said it would use 'large sites' like ex-military facilities, as well as barges and ferries to reduce demand on asylum hotels. The only two sites still in use are Wethersfield Airfield in Essex and Napier Barracks in Kent. As of December 2024, there were only 735 migrants living between them. The government said in March that Napier Barracks would be closing after multiple allegations of poor conditions and criticism from MPs. It was also found that former home secretary Suella Braverman acted unlawfully in accommodating three asylum seekers at Wethersfield who argued they were living in 'prison-like' conditions. However, despite pledging to close Wethersfield in opposition, Labour is set to continue and even expand its use, increasing its capacity from 800 to 1,225 in July. Most agree that the use of boats is not a tenable or humane solution. The last people left the Dorset-moored Bibby Stockholm in November after fierce criticism against the 'migrant barge'. Student accommodation The government purchased former student accommodation in Huddersfield in 2023 with the purpose of housing asylum seekers. As of February 2025, the property was under development, according to the NAO. The 405-bed block of flats will hold a maximum of 670 people, the Home Office has said. There were reports that 168 students had planned to live in the building and were told they had to make alternative arrangements, although the government denied this. Using this kind of accommodation – already built for temporary use – may be a strong option to replace the use of hotels in the coming years. However, Kirklees Council said in March that there were issues it would like to see addressed before the plans go ahead. Council leader Cathy Scott said: "The Home Office needs to commit to engaging properly with the Huddersfield community on its plans as well as addressing the many important issues the council and its partners have put forward before the site becomes operational. She added: "In Kirklees, we have a strong record of supporting people who are fleeing persecution. But the system relies on trust and confidence. We do not believe the Home Office has done enough to build trust over the past six months. That's why we will continue to raise our concerns on behalf of local residents and communities."
