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Dozens of demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers are expected to be met by anti-racism campaigners today and over the weekend.
There has been a surge in protests against the use of such hotels since a larger demonstration at The Bell Hotel in Epping earlier this summer.
Following the release of new migration figures on Thursday, dozens more have been planned over the weekend.
Stand Up to Racism has co-ordinated counter-protests at almost every site, including seven on Friday.
These will go ahead outside hotels in cities and towns including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, and Leeds, with further demonstrations expected on Saturday.
Meanwhile, more councils are considering launching legal action against the use of hotels housing asylum seekers.
Hillingdon Council is the latest to indicate it is contemplating action following Epping Council’s High Court win, which granted them a temporary injunction to prevent migrants being housed in The Bell Hotel.
The government is scrambling to draw up a contingency plan as it braces for more challenges, including some from Labour-run councils.
Warning far-right has ‘hijacked’ women’s safety for political gain
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Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 09:37
Asylum seeker in Epping hotel says close them and ‘let us work’
An asylum seeker staying in the Bell Hotel in Epping has urged the government to “close all the hotels” and allow people to work.
Mohammed, from Somalia, told the BBC that he thought regular housing “would be better”.
He expressed the desire to support himself by working instead.
“So, if you cannot work and you don’t have enough socials [things to do], it is difficult,” he told the broadcaster.
“They are not allowed to work; they stay for long time.
“We don’t have guarantee [of becoming a] resident, so they get stress.
“The people, they go outside and they try to make problem.”
Police officers outside the former Bell Hotel in Epping (PA) (PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 09:15
Shadow minister asked if there are concerns protests could turn violent
Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam has said that members of the public have the right to protest, as police forces across the country prepare for an estimated 30 anti-migrant events and counter-protests.
She told GB News: “I think that we’ve been seeing are local people peacefully making their voices heard and their thoughts known. In a democracy we should all welcome putting forward how they feel about something, and voicing genuine concerns. They have a right to express that.”
(PA Wire)
Asked if she was concerned that these protests could stretch police services, which will take place alongside Premier League football games and the Notting Hill Carnival, she said: “If they tip into violence but a lot of these protests haven’t and long may that continue.”
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 08:43
Asylum claims backlog at 71,000
Thursday’s migration figures have shown that the government has made progress on cutting the asylum application backlog.
The total number waiting was 70,532 in June, down from more than 90,000 at the end of 2024, after the former Tory government stopped processing applications while it waited to see if it could send people to Rwanda under its ultimately failed deportation scheme.
The numbers waiting for more than 12 months for a decision are also falling significantly, although some 19,000 are still waiting.
Asylum claims backlog at 71,000 (Alicja Hagopian/HomeOffice)
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 08:27
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
The Home Office is responsible for asylum and protection in the UK, and must now find somewhere else for these people to go.
Some of the options include other hotels, HMOs or military bases:
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 08:15
More councils consider legal action
Labour is facing the possibility of more councils launching legal action to restrict the use of asylum hotels.
Hillingdon Council is the latest to indicate it is considering its legal options following Epping Council’s High Court win.
Hillingdon Council leader Ian Edwards told Local Democracy Reporters: “Our head of legal will be reviewing the judgement to determine if a similar case can be brought.”
The government is scrambling to draw up a contingency plan as it braces for challenges from authorities including Labour-run councils, who are now among those considering legal challenges of their own.
(PA)
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 07:47
Counter-protests planned for today
Seven counter-protests have been set up by anti-racism campaigners on Friday.
In recent weeks, there has been a surge in anti-migrant demonstrations outside hotels housing people who are seeking asylum.
Following the release of migration figures, dozens more have been planned over the weekend, The Independent understands.
Stand Up to Racism has co-ordinated counter-protests at almost every site.
On Friday counter-protests will go ahead outside hotels in cities and towns including Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chichester, and Leeds.
(PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 07:33
YouGov: More Britons blame Conservatives for issues around asylum hotels than blame Labour
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
New YouGov polling finds that over a quarter (28%) of Britons say the previous Conservative government are most responsible for the issues around asylum seekers being housed in hotels, while one in five (19%) say the current Labour administration is most at fault.
Two in five (40%) Britons believe that the current Labour government and the previous Conservative administration are equally responsible.
Over half (57%) of people who voted for Reform UK at the last general election blame both equally:
(YouGov)
Athena Stavrou22 August 2025 07:12
Epping protesters and its council have ‘led the way’, says Robert Jenrick
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the people of Epping who protested outside the Bell Hotel, and its council have “led the way”.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said that “our country’s patience has snapped”.
It comes as a wave of fresh protests are expected this weekend outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Earlier this week, a judge granting Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction that blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.
The council had argued the injunction was needed amid “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” in connection with the hotel.
Mr Jenrick wrote: “People are utterly sick of being ignored by the establishment.And this time they are doing something about it.
“It’s heartening to see people from all backgrounds fighting back against a rotten status quo – and winning.
“As a result of their success the Home Office is now under immense pressure to deport those here illegally rather than managing failure by housing them across the country.”
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (PA) (PA Archive)
Alex Ross22 August 2025 06:30
People have ‘every right’ to protest asylum hotels – shadow home secretary
People have “every right to engage in protest”, the shadow home secretary has said, amid concerns a High Court ruling could trigger a wave of demonstrations outside asylum hotels.
Chris Philp named three Conservative-led councils which are considering taking legal action against hoteliers whose property is being used to house asylum seekers.
His party’s leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Conservative council leaders “encouraging” them to follow Epping Forest District Council’s footsteps by launching bids to shut these hotels, if their “legal advice supports it”.
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Holly Evans22 August 2025 06:00