The Home Office is expected to announce the closure of 11 asylum hotels next week, in a move that forms part of Labour’s pledge to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the end of this parliament.
The policy is aimed at reducing reliance on hotel accommodation, which has remained a contentious issue since it became widespread at the start of the Covid pandemic.
The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has drawn criticism and triggered repeated public protests. Anti-migrant demonstrators have gathered outside a number of hotel sites, arguing that asylum seekers are being given luxurious treatment.
The closures are being presented as part of a wider commitment to phase out the practice entirely before the current parliament ends. The announcement is likely to be closely watched, given the political sensitivity surrounding asylum accommodation and the long-running debate over how the system should be managed.
Hotels became a major part of the asylum system during the pandemic, when pressure on accommodation intensified. Since then, their use has remained controversial, with ministers facing criticism over the cost, the scale of the policy and the impact on local communities.
By moving ahead with the shutdown of 11 sites, the Home Office will be taking an early step toward meeting its broader promise. However, the exact timetable for ending all hotel use has not been detailed in the source report.
The announcement reflects the government’s effort to respond to public concern while also shifting asylum accommodation away from temporary hotel arrangements. It remains to be seen how quickly alternative housing options can be expanded to support that goal.
The issue has continued to provoke strong views on both sides, with asylum hotels becoming one of the most visible symbols of the wider debate over migration, border control and asylum policy in the UK.
