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Scottish Sun
13 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
More councils to try & block asylum seeker migrants from hotels in their area after landmark Epping ruling
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MORE councils are now trying to block migrants from hotels in their local area after being spurred on by the landmark Epping victory. The ruling from High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre will force the owners of The Bell Hotel in Epping to remove migrants from the site before September 12. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Police officers stand outside the The Bell Hotel Credit: AFP 5 Jubilant protesters gather outside the Bell hotel following the court victory 5 Protests had erupted outside the hotel after one of its guests was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl Credit: Reuters 5 Activists were seen celebrating after the court ruling yesterday Epping Forest District Council had launched the punchy legal challenge after protests erupted outside The Bell Hotel in recent weeks. Public anger grew after a migrant living at the hotel was charged with sexual assault. Now, a Mr Justice Eyre has ruled that the hotel might have breached planning rules by housing migrants at their site in Essex, rather than paying customers. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told The Sun that the court's ruling yesterday throws Labour's asylum policy into 'chaos'. Now, other local authorities appear to be following the example of the small Essex council. The Borough of Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire said it would take legal advice as a "matter of urgency" on whether it could undertake similar action. The local authority is seeking to remove migrants from The Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt, saying it had opposed their placement in the hotel "from the outset". At the time, the council was advised that action to prevent asylum seekers being housed in the hotel was unlikely to be successful. But now, spurred on by the success seen in Epping, the council plans to take legal advice ahead of taking action to remove migrants from the hotel. Corina Gander, Tory leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, said the Epping verdict had "given us this massive boost and precedent that we can do something now". Protesters arrested near migrant hotel after 'asylum seeker guest' arrested on suspicion of assault She will be writing to the Home Office in the wake of the High Court ruling today to seek an assurance that no asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping will be moved to Cheshunt. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also indicated the 12 councils where Reform UK was the largest party would consider legal challenges following Tuesday's ruling. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Farage said the local authorities would do "everything in their power to follow Epping's lead". He added: "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." Ahead of yesterday's court ruling, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attempted to make an 11th hour attempt to get the case dismissed - but was refused by the judge. A lawyer acting for the Home Office had warned the decision to remove migrants would 'substantially impact' its ability to house asylum seekers in hotels across the UK. Edward Brown KC claimed it 'runs the risk of acting as an impetus for further violent protests'. Border Security Minister Angela Eagle said they would 'carefully consider' the judgment. She said: 'This Government inherited a broken asylum system, at the peak there were over 400 hotels open. We will continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns. Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. 'We will carefully consider this judgment. As this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.' Following the ruling, Leader of Epping Forest District Council Chris Whitbread hailed the temporary ban as an important victory for councils across the country. Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, the Tory councillor said: 'This is a decision that's important to Epping Forest, but also important to have councils up and down the country, and it shows that the Government cannot ignore planning rules, just like no-one else can ignore planning rules.' He continued: 'One of the great things about Epping Forest, and one of the things I want to get back to, is Epping Forest is a great district and a great community, and there is so much that we can be proud of.' He added: 'This is only the start of a process and subject to appeal, we recognise that, but all things being equal, the Bell Hotel will be empty by September 12, and that's really important for the students, residents, businesses of Epping Forest. 'What we do have to be aware of, we have a responsibility now, and in recent weeks, we have seen the protests that started off quite violently become peaceful protests, run by the people of Epping Forest. 'What I call upon the residents tonight is if they decide to go outside the Bell Hotel, don't protest, don't over-celebrate. This is the beginning. It is not the end. 'We have a lot of work to do, and we will do everything we can, as I promised the full council, we will leave no stone unturned to work in the interest of Epping Forest. 'The Government have to address the bigger issue of the illegal asylum problem, but in Epping Forest, we will stand up for our residents and we will do our best on their behalf.' Not all councils, however, are pursuing the same path as Epping Forest. The leader of South Norfolk District Council, which covers the town of Diss where a hotel housing asylum seekers has also been the subject of protests, said the council would not go down the same route. Conservative leader Daniel Elmer said the council was using planning rules to try to ensure it was families being housed in the area rather than single adult males. He said to do so, which would effectively convert the hotels into hostels, should require a change of use. Two men were arrested and charged in connection with a protest in July outside the hotel in Diss, which houses more than 40 children. Cllr Elmer said: "We make a big play about integration, and to replace families who have children in the local school system and have integrated into the local community would make no sense." He added: "If we can punish people who have put up sheds in their gardens without permission, then we can take action against hotels being converted into hostels without planning consent." This comes as protesters were seen rejoicing outside the Bell Hotel in Essex today following the landmark ruling booting migrants out of the site. They were seen popping bottles of champagne, spraying the drink in the air and waving Union Jacks. Families partying outside the Epping hotel told The Sun the ruling will set a precedent for the other hotels across the UK. The ruling today was welcomed by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who said: "This is a victory for the parents and concerned residents of Epping. They do not want their young women being assaulted on the streets. "This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won. They represent the vast majority of decent people in this country. "Young, undocumented males who break into the UK illegally should NOT be free to walk the streets anywhere. They must be detained and deported. "I hope that Epping provides inspiration to others across the country."
Rhyl Journal
5 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Starmer returns to Scotland after family holiday interrupted by Ukraine talks
The Prime Minister's plane flew from the US to Glasgow overnight following the White House discussions, landing on Tuesday morning. It had taken off from the same airport the previous day when Sir Keir was heading to the US for the brief trip. On his return to Scotland, Sir Keir will co-chair a call of the so-called 'coalition of the willing', a group of nations looking to help Ukraine that he has been leading with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the second summer in a row that the Prime Minister's holiday plans have been disrupted after he cancelled a European trip last August when rioting broke out in the UK and tensions escalated in the Middle East. The Prime Minister also delayed his departure for a trip last Christmas following the death of his brother aged 60 who had been suffering from cancer. A minister has said it is an 'occupational hazard' that prime ministers can see their holidays disrupted. Pensions minister Torsten Bell told Sky News that Sir Keir has been making a 'real difference' in the negotiations over Ukraine. He told the broadcaster: 'It is an occupational hazard for prime ministers that holidays are interrupted. You'll have been covering that for years. 'I've been around British politics enough to have seen that happen, unfortunately, year after year. 'I want the Prime Minister to have a rest […] all we want to do is make sure that we're addressing these big issues, and that in this summer means making sure we get those security guarantees in Ukraine.'
Rhyl Journal
5 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Thousands object to Tesla bid to supply energy to UK homes
The company applied for a licence from the energy regulator last month, aiming to start supplying power to homes and businesses in England, Scotland and Wales as soon as next year. But its billionaire owner's political activity, including his support for Donald Trump and far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has drawn objections to the application from the public. Campaign group Best for Britain has urged the public to write to Ofgem, arguing Mr Musk is not a 'fit and proper' person to have 'a foothold in our essential services'. Some 8,462 people have used the group's online tool to lodge objections with Ofgem so far. 🚨 BREAKING NEWS – THOUSANDS MORE LETTERS SENT 🚨 📈Thousands of you have taken action so far and sent a letter to Ofgem – will you join us and help stop Musk? ✍️It only takes two minutes to send Ofgem our — Best for Britain (@BestForBritain) August 17, 2025 Best for Britain's chief executive Naomi Smith said: 'We've all had a front row seat to Musk's malign influence, turning Twitter into an incubator for right-wing hate, promoting baseless conspiracy theories and helping Trump secure a second term as US president – something that continues to change our world in profoundly dangerous ways. 'British people are rightly against Musk being anywhere near our electricity supply and that's why we are encouraging more people to make their views known before Friday by using our online tool to write to Ofgem and say they oppose this power grab – it only takes two minutes.' Members of the public have until Friday to comment on the application, after which Ofgem will decide whether to grant Tesla a licence to supply electricity. The electric car manufacturer, run by the world's richest man, also has a solar energy and battery storage business. Tesla has been involved in the UK energy market since 2020, when it was granted a licence to be an electricity generator. In the US, the group has been an electricity supplier in Texas for the past three years. The application comes amid a backdrop of waning demand for Tesla's electric vehicles across Europe in recent months. Industry figures showed an almost 60% plunge in the number of new Tesla registrations in the UK in July, compared with a year earlier. Data showed that 987 new vehicles were registered in the UK in July compared with 2,462 in the same month a year earlier. Tesla was approached for comment for this story.
