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Kate Whannel, a political reporter, reported that the government is in the process of seeking the right to appeal against a High Court ruling that prevented asylum seekers from being housed in an Essex hotel. Epping Forest District Council had obtained a temporary injunction earlier in the week to prevent individuals from being placed at the Bell Hotel located in Epping. Despite an unsuccessful attempt by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene and dismiss the council’s case, the court denied the request.
Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized the government’s commitment to closing all asylum hotels, mentioning the importance of doing so in an organized manner. Additionally, he stated that the government plans to appeal the decision. A senior Home Office official highlighted the significance of democracy, asserting that the judiciary should not dictate where the government can place asylum seekers.
The leader of Epping council, Chris Whitbread, expressed readiness to address an appeal if initiated by the government. An asylum seeker residing at the hotel advocated for the closure of such accommodations and proposed that asylum seekers should be permitted to work to sustain themselves. The presence of the Bell Hotel sparked protests, particularly after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping.
Numbers released by the government indicated a rise in asylum seekers being accommodated in hotels, reaching 32,059 – an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Despite this increase, it was noted that the figure was lower than the peak in 2023. Moreover, asylum applications saw a significant surge, reaching 111,000 in the year leading up to June. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the Home Office’s decision to appeal the closure of the Bell Hotel, proposing immediate deportation of illegal arrivals as an alternative approach
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