UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour faces backlash for approving hotel and barge housing for asylum seekers till 2027, despite earlier election promises.
As reported by The Independent, the government has approved a contract that extends the use of hotels and barge accommodation for asylum seekers until September 2027, despite Labour’s pledge to end the policy.
Labour extending hotel contracts after promising to end them
A transparency document reviewed by The Independent reveals plans to use hotels, barges, student halls, and cruise ships for housing.
The Cabinet Office awarded the contract in October 2024, shortly after Labour’s landslide victory. This came despite their pledge to end the use of hotels and barges for asylum seekers. The deal extends until September 2027.
The “call-off contract” is a pre-agreed arrangement, which allows government bodies to procure goods and services from suppliers through a pre-existing framework. The government has stated that it does not intend to use the contract to prolong the use of hotels.
What did the government source say about the new asylum seeker accommodation contract?
A government source said of the contract,
“We’re trying to cover every possible use that you can think of, even if there’s a 0.01 percent chance of it being used… You’d rather have it in there than not. No one has a crystal ball. In extreme cases it may be needed from a procurement perspective.”
They stated,
“This is highly misleading – the contract is for travel, transport, accommodation and venue services across the public sector and we have no intention of using it to keep hotels open.”
The spokesperson added,
“We are already closing asylum hotels and with further closures in the coming weeks, will reduce taxpayer costs and give control back to local communities. We are also reviewing all contracts across the asylum estate inherited from the previous government and taking action where necessary.”
Green Party’s co-leader’s views on the use of barges for asylum seekers
The Green Party has called on the government to ensure that it won’t revive the “inhumane practice” of housing asylum seekers on barges.
The party’s co-leader, Carla Denyer, stated,
“The last government’s cruel, dangerous use of the Bibby Stockholm barge to house people seeking asylum was the failure of government policy but also a failure of humanity.”
He said,
“Those who were forced to live on the barge were exposed to disease, bedbugs and flooding, and given inedible, sometimes rancid food. One person tragically died on board the boat, having been moved there against his will.”
Mr Denyer added,
“The home secretary must confirm that this government will not restore the inhumane use of barges to house people seeking asylum. Instead, this government should take urgent action to fix our broken asylum system by introducing safe routes for people fleeing war, persecution and danger abroad to seek safety in the UK.”
What did Care4Calais CEO Steve Smith say about the UK’s asylum accommodation system?
Steve Smith, CEO of the charity Care4Calais, stated,
“Whilst private companies continue to make massive profits, people seeking asylum are being accommodated in former military camps and mould-infested properties.”
He added,
“The UK’s for-profit asylum accommodation model is broken. It’s time the government moved to a new system that places the needs of people before shareholder profits.”
How did the conservatives criticize the government over the asylum accommodation contract?
The Tory Party condemned the government’s action, accusing Labour of misleading the public regarding the asylum accommodation contract.
The shadow home secretary Chris Philp,
“They promised to end hotel accommodation for illegal immigrants, but have seen it balloon.”
He added,
“Labour’s claims to smash the gangs are in tatters. This has been the worst ever year so far for illegal immigrants crossing the channel. That is why illegal immigrants being accommodated in asylum hotels are going up.”
Yvette Cooper takes on ending hotel use for asylum seekers
Before the election, then-shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper pledged to eliminate asylum hotels, stating,
“Tory chaos at our borders and in the asylum system is costing taxpayers billions and must come to an end. All we have had from this government is gimmicks, not grip.”
She said,
“Labour has a serious plan to end the government’s wasteful spending on hotels and return people who have no right to be here.”
Home Office figures reveal about asylum seekers and hotel accommodation
According to the latest Home Office reports, the number of asylum seekers in hotel accommodation has grown by over 8,000 since the general election, reaching a total of 38,079 by the end of December.
The use of hotels for asylum seekers has reduced significantly. While the previous government utilized over 400 hotels, now just over 200 are in use.
The latest statistics from the Home Office reveal that 6,796 asylum seekers have risked crossing the English Channel to Britain this year, reflecting a 25% increase from last year and a 49% rise compared to 2023.