Asylum seekers to be moved to military barracks in policy change

Asylum seekers to be moved to military barracks in policy change



Posted by theipaper

14 comments

  1. Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil plans to move asylum seekers from [hotels into military barracks](https://inews.co.uk/news/barracks-student-halls-where-asylum-seekers-could-go-hotels-emptied-3871133?ico=in-line_link) as the government seeks to harden its immigration policy.

    The newly appointed home secretary is reportedly set to announce the use of ministry of defence sites to house people, after a [wave of protests outside migrant accommodation over the summer.](https://inews.co.uk/news/rival-groups-clash-at-protest-outside-london-asylum-hotel-3839756?ico=in-line_link)

    The scale of the challenge facing the former justice secretary in her new role was illustrated on Saturday, when an estimated 1,000 people arrived in the UK by small boat over the course of the day.

    Dozens of asylum hotels are expected to close after they became the focal point of several demonstrations in recent months.

    Ministers are also close to agreeing a returns deal with Germany, having already secured one with France, [the Daily Telegraph reported](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/06/starmer-to-move-asylum-hotel-migrants-to-military-barracks/).

    One government source said “nothing is off the table” for Ms Mahmood as she assumes her new brief, which puts her in charge of borders and asylum policy.

    She has previously signalled a willingness to look at reform of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) within domestic law.

    It comes after the prime minister [carried out a major cabinet reshuffle](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/cooper-small-boats-failure-starmers-cabinet-reshuffle-3903012?ico=in-line_link), including wide-ranging changes at the Home Office, as he seeks to tighten his grip on immigration and [draw a line under Angela Rayner’s resignation](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/starmer-damaging-splits-leadership-rayner-quits-3902697?ico=in-line_link).

    Former borders minister Dame Angela Eagle and former policing minister Dame Diana Johnson were moved to other departments in the clear-out, while former home secretary Yvette Cooper has become foreign secretary.

    Former industry minister Sarah Jones will become policing minister, a brief she held in opposition, as part of Ms Mahmood’s new-look team along with Mike Tapp, the Dover MP from Labour’s 2024 intake, and Alex Norris.

    “The new ministers will drive forward our growth agenda with a relentless focus,” said Sir Keir.

    “Phase two of this government is about delivery and this is a government that will renew Britain and deliver the change people voted for.”

    Ms Rayner quit as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy Labour leader on Friday, after an independent ethics investigation found she had failed to pay enough stamp duty on a seaside flat she bought in May.

    The government’s ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus, said he believed Ms Rayner acted in “good faith”, but that “the responsibility of any taxpayer for reporting their tax returns and settling their liabilities rests ultimately with themselves”.

    Ms Rayner admitted she had made a “mistake” and said she “deeply” regretted failing to seek additional specialist tax advice during the purchase in Hove.

  2. So foreign fighting age males are taking over British military bases…

  4. Step in the right direction. Can we get them to work for their keep as the next step. Not slave labour but enough hours to pay off the rent and other benefits at min wage.

  5. And next week the Reform goblins will be crowing and getting all frothy about how much it will cost to get these places up to standard to house people. Something the pervious government had no appetite for so also watch out for their hypocrisy too, that cunt Jenrick will be first out the gate I’m sure.

  6. Next week hotel ownerd will protest they are losing money.

  9. Ah, racism. Lovely. Labour are becoming the party of racism.

  11. We don’t want them moved to military barracks, we want them deported. It’s not hard to grasp.

  12. Then you’re blind I’m afraid

    You’re inviting a cuckoo bird into your nest

    Let’s revisit this conversation 5 years later

  13. Hurray. Useless performative cruelty.

    Are the hotel-shouting meatheads happy?

    Can we get back to discussing policy that will actually make a difference to most people’s lives, yet?

    I swear the british electorate is like a toddler with car keys.

  14. And they should not be allowed out of the barracks until they are success in their claim. Cant have them loose in the general public. We dont know who they are and the government have a responsibility to keep us safe

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