The number of asylum seekers temporarily accommodated in UK hotels has increased by 13% over a three-month period, according to newly released data.
This rise comes despite the Government’s commitment to end the use of asylum hotels before the current Parliament concludes. Figures published by the Home Office on Thursday show that 36,273 asylum seekers were living in hotels at the end of September, up from 32,041 in June.
The data also confirms that hotel use previously peaked at 56,018 in September 2023 under the Conservatives, before dropping to a low of 29,561 in June 2024. A Home Office spokesperson reacted to the figures by saying: “We are furious at the levels of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. “There are now fewer than 200 in use, and we will close every single one. Work is well underway to move illegal migrants into military bases to ease pressure on communities across the country. “And that’s why last week we set out the most sweeping reforms in modern times to restore order and control to our borders. “We will remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to the UK and make it easier to remove and deport them."
An exclusive ITV News/Ipsos survey reveals that nearly half (46%) of Britons believe immigration has a negative impact on the UK overall, including on the NHS and other public services.
The poll, conducted from 31 October to 4 November, gathered responses from around 2,000 people aged 16 to 75 with varied social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.
Last month, the Government confirmed that two military barracks in Scotland and southern England would be used to accommodate around 900 men in a bid to reduce the reliance on hotel accommodation. Photo by DAVID HOLT from London, England, Wikimedia commons.
