Asylum hotels latest: More councils consider legal challenges as anti-racism counter-protests planned

Labour is facing the possibility of more councils launching legal action to restrict the use of asylum hotels.

Hillingdon Council is the latest to indicate it is considering its legal options following Epping Council’s High Court win.

Hillingdon Council leader Ian Edwards told Local Democracy Reporters: “Our head of legal will be reviewing the judgement to determine if a similar case can be brought.”

The government is scrambling to draw up a contingency plan as it braces for challenges from authorities including Labour-run councils, who are now among those considering legal challenges of their own.

Seven counter-protests have been set up by anti-racism campaigners on Friday.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in anti-migrant demonstrations outside hotels housing people who are seeking asylum.

Following the release of migration figures, dozens more have been planned over the weekend, The Independent understands.

Stand Up to Racism has co-ordinated counter-protests at almost every site.

On Friday counter-protests will go ahead outside hotels in cities and towns including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, and Leeds.

The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

New YouGov polling finds that over a quarter (28%) of Britons say the previous Conservative government are most responsible for the issues around asylum seekers being housed in hotels, while one in five (19%) say the current Labour administration is most at fault.

Two in five (40%) Britons believe that the current Labour government and the previous Conservative administration are equally responsible.

Over half (57%) of people who voted for Reform UK at the last general election blame both equally:

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the people of Epping who protested outside the Bell Hotel, and its council have “led the way”.

Writing in The Telegraph, he said that “our country’s patience has snapped”.

It comes as a wave of fresh protests are expected this weekend outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

Earlier this week, a judge granting Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction that blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.

The council had argued the injunction was needed amid “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” in connection with the hotel.

Mr Jenrick wrote: “People are utterly sick of being ignored by the establishment.And this time they are doing something about it.

“It’s heartening to see people from all backgrounds fighting back against a rotten status quo – and winning.

“As a result of their success the Home Office is now under immense pressure to deport those here illegally rather than managing failure by housing them across the country.”

People have “every right to engage in protest”, the shadow home secretary has said, amid concerns a High Court ruling could trigger a wave of demonstrations outside asylum hotels.

Chris Philp named three Conservative-led councils which are considering taking legal action against hoteliers whose property is being used to house asylum seekers.

His party’s leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Conservative council leaders “encouraging” them to follow Epping Forest District Council’s footsteps by launching bids to shut these hotels, if their “legal advice supports it”.

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has responded to the latest Home Office migration figures.

“Labour say the number of asylum hotels has halved. What they aren’t saying is all of that cut happened before the general election last year,” she says. “If Labour had continued on that trajectory, there would be no asylum hotels today.”

“Instead, progress has stopped. The number of asylum hotels has remained constant, the number of small boat arrivals has hit record highs, and they voted against our Deportation Bill that would bring in a proper deterrent and ensure we deported illegal arrivals asap.”

Locals in Epping have welcomed an injunction to block asylum seekers from being housed at a nearby hotel, but raised concerns the decision would only “kick the can down the road”.

Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary High Court injunction on Tuesday blocking asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Several protests and counter-protests have been held in the town since Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a then-resident at the hotel, was charged with trying to kiss a teenage girl, which he denies.

Following the decision on Tuesday, a crowd of about a dozen people gathered outside the hotel brandishing flags, shouting “We’ve won” and popping sparkling wine, while passing traffic honked their horns at them.

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It follows a High Court ruling on Tuesday that banned the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, for asylum seekers after lawyers argued it had become a “feeding ground for unrest” following a string of violent protests at the site.

As Labour braces for a fresh round of legal action from revolting councils seeking similar bans in their areas, new Home Office figures reveal that the number of people claiming asylum in the past year soared to a record 111,000, while small boats continue to cross the Channel at increasing rates.

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A local council in Northern Ireland has started a probe into a hotel being used to house asylum seekers.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council confirmed that an enforcement investigation has commenced.

It is understood it is into the legal planning status of the hotel in Co Antrim being used to house asylum seekers.

A council spokesperson said they have no further comment to make at this time.