STUDENT accommodation, colleges and disused tower blocks may replace migrant hotels as councils continue to revolt.
The move is part of Labour’s pledge to stop using hotels to house migrants by 2029,
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The Bell Hotel in Epping, which was used for housing migrantsCredit: Alamy
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Security keep guard for trouble at the Brittania International Hotel in Canary WharfCredit: Gary Stone
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Anti-immigration demonstrators display Union Jack and England flags as they gather outside the Cresta Court hotel, in AltrinchamCredit: Reuters
However, nearly 200 hotels are still in use, putting up more than 32,000 people, according to recent figures.
Labour said it no longer wants to house migrants on large sites like military bases.
Instead, it is reportedly planning to use sites which are easier to make habitable and not as expensive to refurbish.
According to Dame Angela Eagle, the minister for border security, the plan is to use “medium-sized” sites like “voided tower blocks, old teacher training colleges or old student accommodation”.
This is because the Tories’ plans to use large sites like former military bases and the Bibby Stockholm barge would be too expensive.
She said the effort of tackling “asbestos-filled buildings and poisoned land” would be too pricey.
“I think that there are different, better ways of trying to achieve this kind of service than the ones that we’ve inherited,” she said.
But authorities are poised to follow Epping Forest council in Essex after it won a High Court injunction to halt asylum accommodation.
Now, it has been revealed that asylum accommodation contractors working for the Home Office “reached out” to property specialists earlier this month, seeking 5,000 residential units, reports the Telegraph.
Insiders told the outlet that each flat would likely have two bedrooms on average, with space to house four migrants.
ASYLUM SEEKER HOTEL PROTESTS
This Bank Holiday weekend, around 30 migrant hotels are bracing for a wave of protests as campaigners are bolstered by this week’s landmark ruling.
The High Court ordered the removal of migrants from the hotel in Essex, which has become the face of the row over asylum seeker accommodation.
It was the centre of protests after a migrant being housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl – which he denies.
Several other demonstrations cropped up around the UK as communities rebelled against the migrant hotels in their area.
It is understood that there is a fresh wave of protests – at least 27 – planned outside of hotels this Bank Holiday weekend.
However anti-racism groups have warned towns and cities could experience the most disruption since last year’s summer riots.
Councils are also pushing back, following the lead of Epping Forest Council, which argued for the hotel to be closed to reduce the threat of “violent protests” and for the safety of those living nearby.
Mr Justice Eyre ruled the owners may have breached planning rules by housing migrants rather than paying customers.
The Home Office argued that granting this application risks “acting as an impetus for further violent protests”.
The High Court ruling threatens Labour’s asylum seeker plans, as more and more councils express an intention to follow suit.
If more councils take action, ministers are unsure where more than 30,000 people in hotel rooms would live.
However Brighton and Hove City Council refused to launch a legal bid, saying it was a “proud city of sanctuary” and will continue to welcome and support asylum seekers.
Jacob Taylor, the local authority’s deputy leader, said “We will not comment on the location of hotels being used by the Home Office to provide temporary accommodation to people seeking asylum.
“I believe to do so in the current climate is irresponsible and risks causing division and unrest in our communities at a time when more than ever we need to bring people together.”
While some county councils will push for the closures, the legal steps to challenge the use of hotels falls to district and borough councils.
The Local Government Association called on the Home Office to work “much more closely” with authorities on asylum accommodation decisions.
The Home Office is scrambling to find accommodation for up to 138 men housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping before the September 12 deadline to empty it.
Pressed to give details of these contingency options, Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis said: “With respect, the legal judgment was only handed down yesterday.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has written to Yvette Cooper to demand that those in the Bell Hotel are not moved to apartments, houses in multiple occupation, or social housing which is “much needed for British people”.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office – which has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute – can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.
Amid hotel protests, campaigners including Rape Crisis and Refuge have warned conversations about violence against women and girls are being “hijacked by an anti-migrant agenda” which they argued fuels divisions and harms survivors.
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Protesters outside of The Bell Hotel in EppingCredit: n.c
RECORD NUMBERS OF MIGRANTS
It comes after it was revealed that a record number of people claimed asylum in the UK in the last year – with a massive 32,000 currently living in taxpayer-funded hotels.
Home Office data shows that 111,000 people claimed asylum in the year ending June 2025 up 14 per cent on last year.
It is higher than the previous recorded peak of 103,000 which was set in 2002.
The number of people claiming asylum in this country has almost doubled since 2021.
And just under half of all those applying for protection in the UK are granted it at the initial decision stage – 48 per cent.
It is lower than in 2022 when 77 per cent of those applying were given the green light.
In the year up to March, the UK was the fifth biggest recipient of asylum seekers in the UK after Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
The sky-high figures come as the number of migrants being housed in hotels has INCREASED since Labour came into power.
A total of 32,059 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels at the end of Labour’s first year in Government up 8 per cent on the same point 12 months ago.
Around 210 hotels are currently open across the UK despite Labour’s manifesto pledge to end their use.
In the year to June, the top five nationalities of people arriving in Dover were Afghan, Eritrean, Iranian, Syrian and Sudanese.
The High Court judgement explained
HIGH Court Judge Mr Justice Eyre has ruled that the owners of The Bell Hotel – Somani Hotels Limited – might have breached planning rules by housing migrants at the site, rather than paying customers.
After a hearing in London’s High Court last week, Mr Justice Eyre said Somani Hotels Limited had “sidestepped the public scrutiny and explanation” by not applying for planning permission for the migrant hotel.
In his judgement, he said that while the council had not “definitively established” that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules, “the strength of the claimant’s case is such that it weighs in favour” of granting the injunction.
He said the fear of crime being committed by those accommodated there was a “relevant factor”, albeit one with “limited weight”.
In his judgement, he said it is “understandable” that recent arrests “form a basis for the local concern”.
He added: “The arrests have occurred in a relatively short period and have arisen when no more than 138 asylum seekers are accommodated in the Bell at any time.
“The consequence is that the fear said to be felt by local residents cannot be dismissed as solely speculation based on fear of what might happen from an activity which has not yet begun.”
The judge also said that had the hotel owners, Somani Hotels Limited, applied for planning permission, it would have given Epping Forest District Council and local residents a chance to air their concerns.
Philip Coppel KC, for the authority, said the situation was “wholly unacceptable” and provided a “feeding ground for unrest”.
He said: “There has been what can be described as an increase in community tension, the catalyst of which has been the use of the Bell Hotel to place asylum seekers.”
Mr Coppel continued: “It is not the asylum seekers who are acting unlawfully.
“It is the defendant, by allowing the hotel to be used to house asylum seekers.”
He added: “It really could not be much worse than this.”
The judge granted a temporary injunction in his ruling, meaning the hotel has to be cleared of its occupants by September 12.
Donald Trump’s MAGA base appears to be in revolt over his administration’s Epstein findings. During the election, Trump promised to release the Epstein files but now says they don’t exist. Soraya Lennie explains the fallout.
It’s been claimed that staff at the BBC are in an ‘open revolt’ after the broadcaster scrapped a documentary about Gaza which will now be shown on Channel 4
BBC staff are reportedly in an “open revolt” against bosses for scrapping a Gaza documentary(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Staff at the BBC are said to be in an “open revolt” after the broadcaster decided to scrap a documentary about Gaza, according to MailOnline. On Saturday, it was revealed that Channel 4 will now air the said documentary instead, which was earlier commissioned by the BBC.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was created by two Emmy award-winning filmmakers and commissioned by the BBC over the year ago. However, it’s been claimed that the corporation had put a pause on production in April after an investigation was launched into another documentary, titled Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.
Following this, Channel 4 will now be broadcasting Gaza: Doctors Under Attack on Wednesday, July 2, at 10pm. But the BBC’s decision is said to have left a bad taste in their staff’s mouths and they are reportedly in uproar over the broadcaster not showing the documentary on their channels.
The aforementioned publication has claimed that more than 300 people have reportedly signed an open letter to director-general Tim Davie to raise concern about censorship at the BBC as it pertains to reporting about Israel.
Staff are said to have signed an open letter with 300 signatures to BBC Director-General Tim Davie(Image: PA)
An insider told MailOnline: “The people at commissioner level who are experienced journalists and take these decisions on an almost daily basis are being overruled by people who are pretending to be journalists.
“There’s open revolt [at the BBC]. [Bosses] approved the film multiple times and then delayed it at least five times but confirmed in emails that it would go out and that the delays were not due to the Johnstone report into Gaza: How to survive in a war zone.
“They said this [new documentary] was a vital film that exemplified ”public interest journalism’. After these multiple delays over six weeks they then apologised and said, ”Sorry, it is because of the Johnstone report”.’
The one-off documentary will now air on Channel 4 on Wednesday, July 2(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is a one-off episode, produced by Basement Films, that examines allegations against Israel that the nation have repeatedly targeted hospitals which is a breach of international law. The documentary was made by journalist Ramita Navai, director Karim Shah and former Channel 4 News Editor Ben De Pear.
The source went on to tell MailOnline that they had to “handle the duty of care” for doctors and medics who couldn’t understand why their interviews wouldn’t be going out on the BBC.
“The film has been fact-checked and complied by Channel 4 to ensure it meets the broadcaster’s editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack explores Israel’s breach of international law by targeting hospitals during the war(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
It was greenlit by Channel 4 Head of News and Current Affairs and Specialist Factual and Sport, Louisa Compton. She said: “This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4’s commitment to brave and fearless journalism.”
Basement Films has added: “This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since October 7th at Basement Films, and whilst none of them have been easy this became by far the most difficult. As ever we owe everything to our Palestinian colleagues on the ground; over 200 of whom have been killed by Israel, and the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories.
“We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.” Mirror have contacted both the BBC and Channel 4 for comment.
A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: “Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process. We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally.
“Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region. Alongside breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.”
SIR Keir Starmer yesterday told Labour rebels to fall into line over welfare cuts – as more than 100 of his own MPs are demanding a U-turn.
The PM insisted the system is “not working for anybody” and vowed to press ahead with slashing the health element of Universal Credit and tightening disability benefit rules.
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion of more than 100 Labour MPsCredit: Getty
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Furious MPs are urging the PM to delay disability benefits cutsCredit: Unpixs
Asked if he would soften the package, he said: “The argument for reform is overwhelming and that’s why we will get on and we will reform.”
It comes as furious MPs are urging him to delay the cuts and have slammed the lack of proper impact checks.
In a blistering letter to the Chief Whip, they said: “We regret we are unable to support a Bill before this has taken place.”
If all the MPs who have signed the letter follow through and vote against the plans, it could wipe out Sir Keir’s majority and trigger the biggest rebellion of his leadership.
Such is the worry inside Labour, that a party source warned dissenting MPs they could be punished at the ballot box.
The source said: “There is only going to be so much money, time and resources at the next election.
“How people behave now will make a difference to how those resources are allocated.”
It comes as some furious MPs are poised to rebel against Sir Keir because they think they’re toast at the next election.
Moderate backbenchers who have so far towed the party line are mulling taking a public stand on issues including disability benefit cuts, immigration and winter fuel payments – even if it means losing the whip.
There is also growing anger around the two-child benefit cap still being in place.
Key measures are reforms to PIP and Universal Credit
Merging jobseekers’ allowance and employment support allowance, where people who have worked get more than those who have not
Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment by 2028, with all health payments made via PIP in the future
Under-22s to be banned entirely from claiming Universal Credit incapacity benefits
An above-inflation rise to the standard allowance of Universal Credit, but the highest incapacity payment cut
A much higher bar for people to claim Personal Independence Payments to save £5billion a year
A “right to try” scheme that allows jobless Brits to have a go at working without losing their benefits if they cannot manage
The Sun understands some MPs want to work “with a clear conscience” until the end of this parliament – knowing that they are unlikely to return because of the threat of Reform.
A Red Wall Labour MP said: “Multiple colleagues with slim majorities think they have no chance of winning their seat.
“They want to hold the PM to account on issues causing an uproar locally, including PIP payments, and think they have nothing to lose if they defy party whips going forward.”
Another Labour MP told The Sun: “The numbers willing to rebel are much higher than expected.
“I think people shouldn’t underestimate just how much welfare is a driver of why a lot of Labour MPs, particularly moderates, are in the Labour party in the first place.
“A lot of our politics was defined by the performative cruelty of the Osborne era, and that casts a long shadow.”
What are Work Capability Assessments?
The DWP uses the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to evaluate a claimant’s ability to work when applying for Universal Credit due to a health condition or disability.
The WCA focuses on assessing functional limitations rather than specific medical diagnoses.
It considers both physical and mental health, awarding points based on how an individual’s condition impacts their ability to carry out daily activities.
After the assessment, claimants may be placed into one of two groups – Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).
Claimants assigned to the LCW group are recognised as currently unfit for work but may be capable of returning to employment in the future with the right support and assistance.
Those in this group are required to engage in work-related activities, such as attending Jobcentre appointments or training courses.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in sanctions, including a reduction or suspension of benefits.
Claimants are placed in the LCWRA group if their health condition or disability is considered so severe that they are not expected to be able to work or participate in any work-related activities in the foreseeable future.
Those in the LCWRA group receive an additional amount on top of their standard Universal Credit allowance currently worth £416.19 a month.
Over 150,000 on benefits will see their payments cut under Personal Independence Payments (PIP) changes, the DWP has confirmed.
From late next year, new and existing PIP claimants being reassessed will have to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to receive the Daily Living Component.
It will see those unable to cook qualify, but not those who can use a microwave.
Likewise, assistance required to wash your lower body would not deem you eligible but your upper body would.
And, while requiring help to use the toilet meets the threshold, needing reminded to go would fall below it.
The higher rate of the Daily Living Component is currently worth £110.40 a week.
Claimants will also have to score at least eight points when being assessed.
The Government estimates this means by 2029/30 around 800,000 won’t receive the Daily Living Component of PIP.
But it has also confirmed 150,000 will be missing out on Carer’s Allowance or the Universal Credit Carer’s Element by 2029/30 too.
This is because to receive either of these carer’s benefits you have to be caring for someone who receives the Daily Living part of PIP.
It means new and existing PIP claimants finding they are no longer eligible will disqualify their carer’s from next November when the changes kick in.
What is PIP and who is eligible?
HOUSEHOLDS suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal independence payments (PIP).
The maximum you can receive from the Government benefit is £184.30 a week.
PIP is for those over 16 and under the state pension age, currently 66.
Crucially, you must also have a health condition or disability where you either have had difficulties with daily living or getting around – or both – for three months, and you expect these difficulties to continue for at least nine months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).
