A fresh wave of protests outside hotels used to shelter asylum seekers is expected in the coming days, following a High Court intervention that blocked the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping for asylum accommodation. The latest official data show more than 32,000 asylum seekers housed in hotels, marking an 8% rise in Labour’s first year in office. Campaign groups such as Stand Up To Racism say they plan counter-protests in several cities, and local authorities across different political alignments are examining potential legal challenges to asylum hotels. The injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council was described as a response to “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” surrounding hotel accommodation, while national politicians reflected the tension by arguing for a balanced approach to housing and public order. According to the Telegraph’s reporting on remarks by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, residents and councils have “led the way” as demonstrations continue; Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended Labour’s record, insisting that crucial steps have been taken toward reform.

A broader context shows the policy aim to end hotel usage for asylum seekers within the current Parliament by 2029, even as occupancy data point to ongoing pressures on housing and services. BBC analysis highlights that by early 2025 more than 32,000 people were in hotels, with the same political theatre surrounding protests and possible legal challenges to hotel locations. The Commons Library briefing adds another layer: in 2022/23 roughly £2.28 billion was spent on hotel accommodation, and about 47,500 people were in hotel beds at the end of March 2023, while the government says it remains committed to end hotel use as part of wider asylum reforms. The reporting also notes that the Home Office has had to navigate bedspace shortages and competing demands on housing, education and local services as it strives to reform contingencies and cut costs associated with hotel-based accommodation.

The debate over alternatives to hotel housing sits within a broader government push for safer, longer‑term arrangements. BBC reporting records a sharp expansion in hotel use, with hundreds of venues across the country—around 220 hotels in operation at one point—alongside openings and closures tied to the political cycle and policy changes. Ministers insist the drive to reform the asylum system remains intact, even as the Rwanda plan and other reforms continue to shape strategy and resource allocation. The Guardian paints a more immediate picture of the human impact: residents at the Bell Hotel and others described fear and uncertainty as a High Court ruling reshaped their futures, while national coverage, including a live political blog, tracks how local protests, budget debates, and court rulings intersect with the push to restore order to asylum provision and public services.

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Source: Noah Wire Services