The former chairman of Singapore’s Reform Party is being housed in a hotel for asylum seekers despite receiving more than £100,000 in financial help from supporters
The Home Office has spent tens of thousands of pounds paying for a senior political figure from Singapore to be housed in a hotel for “destitute” asylum seekers despite him receiving more than £100,000 in financial support.
The i Paper can reveal that Charles Yeo, the former Chairman of Singapore’s opposition Reform Party, has been housed with asylum seekers in hotel accommodation since at least December 2023, with the British taxpayer picking up the bill – estimated to be around £40,000.
Mr Yeo, a lawyer, is claiming asylum and fighting extradition to his native country where he faces a legal practice “regulatory” charge that he claims is “trumped up” and “politically-motivated”.
Mr Yeo, came to the UK in 2022, but was arrested in London in November before being released on bail to a London hotel after the leader of Singapore’s Reform Party, a hedge fund manager, put up £110,000 as security.
The government of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong wants to extradite Charles Yeo over ‘regulatory’ charges, which Yeo claims are ‘politically motivated’ (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
The revelation will heap further pressure on the Government over mounting hotel costs. It has vowed to end the use of them for asylum seekers after the bill reached around £8 million a day, with predictions this could soar even higher.
The rooms are set aside for migrant arrivals branded as “destitute” after arriving into the UK with no means of support. In June Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers, as they are “not good for the taxpayer”.
Alp Mehmet, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “The majority of the public would think these hotels are housing people claiming to be fleeing from war torn countries. If Mr Yeo’s supporters can post a £110,000 surety, they can certainly afford to house him without burdening the British taxpayer.”
Mr Yeo, 34 has been a vocal critic of Singapore’s ruling centre-right People’s Action Party, and his left-leaning Reform Party, which broke away from the Workers’ Party in 2008, aims to “promote political, social and economic reform”.
Mr Yeo’s bail was paid for by Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the current Secretary General of Singapore’s Reform Party, whose late father set it up and who has worked in the financial sector.
Keir Starmer has vowed to end the use of housing asylum seekers in hotels (Photo:Anthony Upton/ PA)
His arrest warrant states Mr Yeo is wanted for an alleged offence of “carrying on reserved legal activity through a person not entitled to carry on such activity between 29 July 2020 and 30 November 2020”.
Mr Yeo, who strenuously denies the charges, is under an electronically-monitored curfew to remain at the hotel from midnight to 8am. He is contesting the extradition at a hearing, which will take place in November.
A Home Office statement said that anyone applying for asylum accommodation was required to declare all income, personal and business assets, and “other forms of support available to them.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is long-standing government policy that we do not comment on individual cases.
“We are legally obliged to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. When assessing destitution, we look at individuals’ income, assets and other forms of support. Those who have adequate accommodation or means of obtaining it will not be eligible for Home Office support.”
Mr Yeo was contacted through his lawyers, who said he did not wish to comment.
Mr Jeyaretnam did not answer any questions about the security payment, but replied via the Reform Party saying: “Charles stepped down from (the) Reform Party in 2022. We are therefore unable to help you with your queries.”