What the Bell Hotel closure reveals about the asylum housing stalemate
Whether this is a victory for mob rule and the far right or planning regulation and nimbys, it reveals the true extent of government impotence. The Home Office has a duty to avoid destitution – it cannot empty the hotels until there are enough houses available to shelter asylum seekers. This dispersal strategy is currently underway with the likes of Serco contracted by the government to offer dreamy deals to landlords to convert their properties into houses of multiple occupancy to house asylum seekers. But these, too, will bring the same tense dynamics of the hotels. They already draw local complaint and unease – and pressure on councils to regulate against them.
While Labour ministers have made repeated promises to close the asylum hotels, and are vocally opposed to the policy – introduced by the Conservatives when the pandemic hit in 2020 – cases such as the Bell Hotel reveal how the Home Office has to fight to keep them open. 'Do you think anyone wanted to house asylum seekers in hotels?' as one despairing minister put it. The government is stuck in asylum hotel California. It can check out of the policy any time it likes, but it can never leave.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Epping migrant protesters pop champagne after court victory sees asylum seekers face the boot from Bell Hotel
EPPING migrant protesters were seen popping champagne to celebrate a High Court ruling that will see asylum seekers booted out of the Bell Hotel. Just hours after the landmark ruling was handed down protesters were seen rejoicing over the news. 7 7 7 A High Court judge granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to block asylum seekers being housed in the Essex hotel. The landmark move was widely celebrated and could spell an end to every migrant hotel, which are funded by UK taxpayers. Protesters were seen rejoicing outside the hotel in Essex today, popping bottles of champagne, spraying the drink in the air and waving Union Jacks. Crowds of local families and activists gathered outside the hotel as the news was passed down that migrants would now be booted out of the premises. Families partying outside the hotel told The Sun the ruling will set a precedent for the other hotels across the UK. 'Send them home and protect our kids,' the growing crowd can be heard shouting and hundreds of cars have driven past honking their horns in support. Champagne was popped and sprayed across the hotel sign, but the protest still remained relatively peaceful. A few migrants made their way inside the hotel but not before anti- immigration protesters shouted at them to leave the area. Men, women, teens and children screamed 'pack your bags' at the blank faced migrants as they were escorted into the hotel by police officers. One jubilant protester told GB News: "I'm elated it has paid off. We've been protesting week after week and it's worked. I'm so happy. Migrants to be kicked out of hotel at centre of protests in landmark ruling after asylum seeker's 'sex attack' 'Keep us safe. That's all we ask for.' There were chants of "save our kids" as protesters waving Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags heard the ruling. Protesters held up signs and placards declaring "we want Epping safe" and "clear them out" as they celebrated what they saw as a victory. 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. 7 7 7 "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." Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, said he was "delighted" with the decision and called it "great news for our residents." It comes after weeks of protests were sparked when a migrant staying at the hotel was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Up to 2,000 activists had marched on the building in just one demonstration previously. Some far-Right thugs joined some of the unrest and launched themselves on riot vans, smashed windshields and ripped off wingmirrors in senseless displays of " hooliganism." A total of 28 people have been arrested in relation to disorder at the hotel, and 16 of them have been charged. The hotel housed migrants from May 2020 to March 2021, then from October 2022 to April 2024. The hotel's owners, Somani Hotels Limited, said the council never instigated any formal enforcement proceedings against this use. In court Somani had argued that contracts to house asylum seekers had been a "financial lifeline." Lawyers for the firm also argued that political views were no grounds for an injunction and branded the ruling "draconian." The local authority argued that the Bell Hotel had breached planning regulations by failing to operate the premises for its designated purpose. The ruling from Judge Mr Justice Eyre will force the owners of the Bell Hotel to remove migrants from the accommodation within 14 days. 7
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
High court asylum hotels ruling leaves Cooper scrambling for alternatives
Yvette Cooper, thanks to Tuesday's high court ruling, is facing potentially explosive decisions over where to house asylum seekers if courts rule that they must leave hotels. The Home Office, usually under Conservative ministers, has been struggling for five years to find an alternative to hotels so they can house a growing number of asylum seekers reaching these shores. Labour has said that it expects to empty the 200-odd hotels housing asylum seekers by 2029. Ministers may be forced to rip up that plan and move at a rapid pace because of the ruling's implications. If councils take to the high court to complain about the use of a hotel for housing asylum seekers – and many will be under immense political pressure from the public to do so – it could force officials to find alternative housing for thousands of people. Legal sources believe that there will be similar grounds to launch applications for interim injunctions from a number of councils. This case has centred on an alleged breach of planning laws by owners of the Bell hotel, who it was claimed did not get permission to switch use from a hotel to hostel-style accommodation. Other hotel owners are thought to be in similar positions to Somani Hotels Limited, which originally housed families in the Bell, but faced a legal challenge after the asylum seekers were switched to single men. Ominously for the government, the Reform UK deputy leader, Richard Tice, said his party would look at pursuing similar cases regarding hotels within the 10 council areas it controls, which include both North and West Northamptonshire councils, Doncaster, and Kent and Staffordshire county councils. And the high court rulings can require a rapid response. Epping's application for an interim was launched on 12 August. By 4pm on 12 September, all asylum seekers will have to be removed from The Bell hotel. There may yet be a lifeline for the government. They could convince the court of appeal to overturn the decision. The fact that the Home Office was not allowed to intervene in a case which was directly related to the home secretary's duties to house asylum seekers could well be seized upon by government lawyers. If they fail to overturn the decision, they will face the same dilemma as successive Tory home secretaries going back to Priti Patel, who promised and failed to find alternatives to hotels to house asylum seekers. The number of asylum hotels soared to 400 under successive Tory home secretaries because of a shortage of housing, a growing backlog in asylum applications, and a failure to establish large accommodation sites in buildings such as disused military barracks. Since coming to power, Labour has increased the speed at which applications are processed, by using more 'dispersal accommodation' such as flats and housing in the community. Questions will no doubt be asked inside the department as to why it took the Home Office until Monday to try to intervene in the case. If it had done so last week, when the case came to court, it would have stood a better chance of preventing the injunction. The political implications of the ruling will continue to unsettle Cooper and No 10. Yet again, the government has been caught flat-footed on an immigration-related issue, as it struggles with soaring numbers of small boats crossing the Channel. Anti-asylum seeker protesters will see this as a victory in response to their demonstrations across the country this summer. Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage, currently leading in most polls, will be buoyed by the prospect of further embarrassment for the government.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Gerry Adams donates to ‘good causes' after BBC pays 100,000 euro damages
The broadcaster lost a defamation case earlier this year after Mr Adams took them to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme and an accompanying online story. They contained an allegation that Mr Adams sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denied any involvement. In May, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euro after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. Johnsons Solicitors, which represented Mr Adams in his action, announced on Tuesday that the BBC has discharged the order of the court in relation to the compensation to their client. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We can confirm the BBC has now paid Gerry Adams 100,000 euros in damages as required by the court.' Mr Adams said he intended to donate any damages awarded to good causes. The law firm said donations have been made to 'Unicef for the children of Gaza', local GAA organisations, a support group for republican prisoners and their families called An Cumman Cabhrach, to the Irish language sector, to the 'homeless and Belfast based-youth, mental health and suicide prevention projects' and others. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader's legal costs, potentially in the order of millions. However, it is understood the final amount of costs have yet to be determined.
