Latest news with #ChrisPhilip
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Send it bark! Taxpayers 'paid for small boat migrant's DOG to be kept in a kennel to quarantine' after crossing the Channel
Taxpayers have been paying thousands for an asylum seeker's dog to stay in the UK. The German Shepherd crossed the Channel in a dingy packed with migrants, in what is believed to have be the first case of its kind. It needs to be isolated to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as rabies, alongside receiving a full check-up with jabs and vaccinations. It may also need months of further care before its owner's asylum claim is processed. It must now spend four months in quarantine - something opposition MPs have branded 'barking mad'. 'Labour have lost control of our borders,' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip told The Sun. 'The cost of quarantining this dog will run into thousands, all paid for by the British taxpayer. It is barking mad.' The German Shepherd came to the UK among the 1,183 human migrants since Saturday last week. There are now talks that the pup could be adopted as an official Border Force dog. A source told the newspaper: 'Border Force officials couldn't believe their eyes but treated the animal with the same humanity they show any individual.' The dog is reported to have been taken to one of the Government's six approved quarantine sites. One of these is the Animal Inn in Deal, which is five miles from Dover. It comes after Keir Starmer vowed to 'take back control' as he pledged to end the 'betrayal' of reliance on cheap foreign labour. The PM accused the Tories of overseeing an explosion in numbers while in power, saying the system seemed 'designed to permit abuse' and was 'contributing to the forces that are slowly pulling our country apart'. A Government spokesman told The Sun: 'The UK takes biosecurity very seriously. 'Where an animal comes from an unlisted country, it is placed in quarantine to prevent dangerous diseases like rabies coming into the country. 'We all want to see the end to dangerous boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk.'
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Small boat migrant's DOG looked after for four months costing YOU thousands in latest borders fiasco
TAXPAYERS are to fork out thousands of pounds to put up a DOG that crossed the Channel in a packed dinghy. The German Shepherd made the perilous trip with its illegal immigrant owner. The fiasco is believed to be the first time a canine has been picked up in this way. 3 3 The German Shepherd was taken ashore to spend at least four months in quarantine at taxpayers' expense. Discussions were under way about adopting the hound — whose breed is easily trained — as an official Border Force dog. But there was also anger at what was seen as the latest border fiasco. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said: 'This country's open borders policy is so porous even household pets are arriving.' The dog was among 1,183 human arrivals on 20 dinghies since Saturday last week. Thousands of pounds are now likely to be spent on the pet to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as rabies. Meanwhile, its owner is believed to be staying in a hotel for asylum seekers — also courtesy of the British taxpayer. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip said: ' Labour have lost control of our borders. 'Their pledge to smash the gangs lies in tatters. 'Since taking office, we have seen nearly 36,000 illegal arrivals and now even dogs are making the crossing. The Sun watches as hundreds of illegal migrants arrive at Dover 'The cost of quarantining this dog will run into thousands, all paid for by the British taxpayer. 'It is barking mad.' In what is believed to be a first for Border Force, officials discovered the German Shepherd last week near the end of its perilous 21-mile trip at Dover, Kent. A source said: 'Search and rescue teams are always prepared for the worst, often helping newborn babies, and elderly pensioners requiring wheelchairs. 'But they were astounded after finding a pet dog nestled among a group of migrants packed into an unsuitable inflatable in the Dover Strait. 'It was a first. 'Border Force officials couldn't believe their eyes but treated the animal with the same humanity they show any individual. 'The dog will now need to spend up to 120 days in quarantine. 'It's unbelievable. 'No one truly knows where this animal has come from or its back story so every precaution has to be taken to protect the public. 'Vets will need to give it a full check-up with jabs and vaccinations to ensure it poses no risk before it can be allowed out of isolation. 'Asylum applications can take years so the pet may need months of further care in kennels until its owner is processed.' The dog is understood to have been taken to one of six Government-approved quarantine sites across the UK. Kent's only facility is The Animal Inn in Deal, five miles from Dover. Dogs were heard barking there yesterday but a worker did not think the cross- Channel canine was among them. Its arrival coincided with the PM's immigration White Paper to 'take back control' of UK borders. A Government spokesman said: 'The UK takes biosecurity very seriously. 'Where an animal comes from an unlisted country, it is placed in quarantine to prevent dangerous diseases like rabies coming into the country. 'We all want to see the end to dangerous boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk.'
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Fury as hotel firm housing asylum seekers in ‘all-inclusive resorts' paid £700M a year of YOUR money
A HOTEL firm housing asylum seekers raked in £700million a year in taxpayers' cash. Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd, which runs 51 UK sites, has been a big winner from the boats crisis. Crossings stand at 9,638 already this year. 7 7 Labour has pledged to close the hotels and 'save billions'. Providing rooms for asylum seekers costs £5.5million a day, with 38,000 people housed in around 210 sites. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'The taxpayer is picking up the bill for Labour's loss of control of our borders. "So far 2025 has been the worst year ever for migrants crossing the Channel, who invariably end up in taxpayer-funded hotels or flats. 'They should be in Rwanda but Labour cancelled that scheme before it started.' 'Loss of control' A Labour source hit back: 'Tories let the accommodation system spiral out of control, with 400 hotels costing £8million a day at its peak. 'We have made changes to save the taxpayer billions and are committed to exiting asylum hotels altogether.' One of Stay Belvedere's asylum seeker hotels has been likened to an all-inclusive resort for offering entertainers, fitness classes, guitar lessons and fresh meals. The Ibis Budget in Bishop's Stortford, Herts, is one of around 210 hotels housing 38,000 asylum seekers at a cost of £5.5million a day. The mostly-male population can choose from a timetable of activities including singing and cookery classes. English lessons are provided along with a support service for immigration cases. Windows smashed at migrant hotel as UK braces for another night of violence A twice-daily free bus ferries them to town where they spend their £8-a-head weekly allowance — also funded by taxpayers. Children are entertained by the visiting Buffy Playbus, a charitable organisation funded by donations. A whistleblower told The Sun: 'It is a very well-run hotel with loads on offer. It's basically at the same level as the four-star all-inclusive I went to on holiday last year. 'They get three fresh meals a day included. Fresh fruit is available around the clock. 'I don't begrudge the kids getting the help and the residents are generally polite. But it does make you wonder will they ever want to leave? "They all have phones and I imagine they send pictures to their mates saying, 'Come over here!' ' Stay Belvedere Hotels, which runs the Ibis, recently had its Government contract ended for 51 UK hotels they operate, because their behaviour 'fell short of expectations'. These migrants shouldn't be getting cooking lessons in hotels — they should have been sent to Rwanda. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip Their deal — part of a £2billion contract for accommodation — will now end in September 2026. Asked about the daily running of the Ibis Budget and the activity timetable, a spokesperson would say only: 'SBHL has provided a consistent bus service, which has been well-received by guests.' The Home Office says there are fewer asylum hotels open than when Labour came to power in July — when 213 were in use. More are set to be closed, but 206 are still expected to be in operation by the end of next month. Ending their use was a key election pledge from Labour, a task they said would be 'saving the taxpayer billions'. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp last night said it was 'another Labour promise that has turned out to be a lie'. He added: 'These migrants shouldn't be getting cooking lessons in hotels — they should have been sent to Rwanda.' Demand for the migrant-housing hotels is unlikely to be stemmed any time soon, with 2025 crossings on track to break records. 7 7 Some 9,638 have crossed in small boats this year — 45 per cent more than this time last year. Home Office data released last month revealed that about 10,000 people who arrived in the UK with a visa, such as for study or work, were now being provided with taxpayer-funded asylum digs. The figure raised concerns that migrants who could financially support themselves — a fact they would have had to declare to get a visa — are still being given free stays. To access asylum support, claimants have to tick a box saying they would otherwise be destitute. People are unable to work while asylum claims are being processed. The Home Office said they will start reviewing the finances of residents staying in hotels from May. Labour has blamed the Tory government for allowing a backlog of unprocessed claims to build up. The latest data shows that at the end of the year, 41,987 people were waiting for a decision on their asylum applications. Mr Philp highlighted that 8,000 more immigrants were in hotels since the election. It's an insult to the taxpayer to discover that all the extra taxes Starmer has imposed are being squandered on accommodating illegal immigrants Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip He added: 'It's an insult to the taxpayer to discover that all the extra taxes Starmer has imposed are being squandered on accommodating illegal immigrants in hotels with nice activities. Starmer is a weak PM letting Britain down.' A Labour source hit back: 'The Tories let the asylum system spiral out of control, with 400 hotels costing £8million a day at its peak. 'We have already made changes to save the taxpayer billions on the asylum system and are committed to exiting asylum hotels altogether.' The 70-room Ibis, close to Stansted, is believed to have last been open to the public in 2021. A villager in nearby Birchanger said they were baffled by the arrival of the asylum seekers. They said: 'It's a quaint location and they're plonked in the middle of the countryside. We see them walking around and getting on the bus. They keep to themselves.' A mile down the road, the £140-a-night Great Hallingbury Manor has reopened to the public after we revealed how in November 2022 it had been closed to house 50 male asylum seekers. Latest accounts for Stay Belvedere Hotels show that in the year to September 2022 the company had a turnover of £704.6million, making a pre-tax profit of £62.6million. The majority of SBHL's business is believed to be their Government contracts for asylum hotels. 'Begun to restore order' The 2022 accounts say the business was reliant on a single agency agreement. It is run by Safwan Adam, 37, a Lib Dem donor, and Bassam Gilini, 37, a property tycoon. SBHL was removed as a government contractor last month but is still operating for now. Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said then: 'Since July, we have improved contract management and added more oversight on our suppliers of asylum accommodation. 'We have made the decision to remove Stay Belvedere Hotels from the supply chain and will not hesitate to take further action to ensure Home Office contracts deliver.' SBHL did not respond to requests about their earnings. The Home Office said last night: 'In autumn 2023, there were more than 400 asylum hotels in use at a cost of almost £9million a day. In the months before the election, the asylum backlog soared again as decision-making collapsed, placing the entire asylum system under unprecedented strain. 'That was the situation the Government inherited but we have begun to restore order, with a rapid increase in asylum decision-making and the removal of over 24,000 people with no right to remain. 'The Home Office does not fund activities for those in asylum hotels. 'These may be provided by voluntary organisations. 'This hotel is currently being transitioned to a new provider.' 'DEPORT' VOW By Noa Hoffman NIGEL Farage yesterday pledged to create a Minister of Deportations — and slammed multiculturalism as a failed experiment in modern Britain. The Reform UK leader demanded a Home Office unit dedicated to the removal of illegal migrants, and a minister put in charge to make someone accountable. Speaking in Dover ahead of local elections, Mr Farage, right, said: 'What I'm calling for isn't actually anything particularly radical. It's actually just common sense.' He also warned of sectarian strife caused by both illegal and legal migrants refusing to integrate, pointing to four MPs elected on a pro-Gaza ticket. He added: 'Encouraging difference was a mistake. we should encourage a sense of togetherness.'
