Home Office seeks to appeal against court ruling on asylum hotel
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Home Office seeks to appeal against court ruling on asylum hotel
Home Office seeks to appeal against court ruling on asylum hotel in Epping, Essex. Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel. The court refused a last-minute effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene and get the council’s case dismissed. If successful in its new bid to be involved, the government is then expected to consider a further appeal against the ruling itself. Thousands of people have gathered near the hotel in recent weeks to protest after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
18 minutes ago Share Save Kate Whannel Political reporter Share Save
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The government is seeking the right to appeal against a High Court ruling which blocks asylum seekers being housed in an Essex hotel. Earlier this week, Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel in Epping. The court refused a last-minute effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene and get the council’s case dismissed. If successful in its new bid to be involved, the government is then expected to consider a further appeal against the ruling itself. Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis said the government was committed to closing all asylum hotels, but added “we need to do that in a managed and ordered way”.
“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision,” he said. A senior Home Office source said it was a matter of “democracy” and that the judiciary should not be able to tell the government where it can and can’t place asylum seekers. Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping council, has previously said he would “find the money” to fight an appeal, if the government chose to bring one. One asylum seeker living at the hotel has told the BBC the government should close the hotels and let asylum seekers work so they can support themselves.
In recent weeks, thousands of people have gathered near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex to protest after an asylum seeker living there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town. Bringing its case, Epping Council argued that the presence of the hotel “poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community”. Before the judgement was handed down, the Home Office asked to intervene in the case, warning that the court’s decision could “substantially impact” its ability to house asylum seekers in hotels across the UK. The court ruled in favour of Epping Council and said the 140 asylum seekers would have to leave the hotel by 16:00 BST on 12 September. Since the ruling, more than half a dozen councils have said they were considering taking similar legal action. Protests and counter-protests are expected to take place outside hotels across the country over the coming days.
Home Office seeks to appeal against court ruling on asylum hotel
Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel. The court refused a last-minute effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to get the council’s case dismissed. Home Office source said it was a matter of “democracy” and that the judiciary should not be able to tell the government where it can and can’t place asylum seekers.Protests and counter-protests are expected to take place outside hotels across the country over the coming days.
Earlier this week, Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel.
The court refused a last-minute effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to get the council’s case dismissed.
If successful in its new bid to be involved, the government is then expected to consider a further appeal against the ruling itself.
Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis said the government was committed to closing all asylum hotels, but added “we need to do that in a managed and ordered way”.
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“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision,” he said.
A senior Home Office source said it was a matter of “democracy” and that the judiciary should not be able to tell the government where it can and can’t place asylum seekers.
In recent weeks, thousands of people have gathered near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex to protest after an asylum seeker living there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town.
Bringing its case, Epping Council argued that the presence of the hotel “poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community”.
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Before the judgement was handed down, the Home Office asked to intervene in the case, warning that the court’s decision could “substantially impact” its ability to house asylum seekers in hotels across the UK.
The court ruled in favour of Epping Council and said the 140 asylum seekers would have to leave the hotel by 16:00 BST on 12 September.
Since the ruling, more than half a dozen councils have said they were considering taking similar legal action.
Protests and counter-protests are expected to take place outside hotels across the country over the coming days.
UK seeks to appeal court ruling on moving asylum seekers out of hotel
The Bell Hotel in Epping, north of London, has seen weeks of anti-immigration protests. An Ethiopian asylum seeker has been charged with sexual assault. The government has pledged to end the practice of housing asylum seekers in hotels, but only in a gradual way. “We’re going to close all asylum hotels in this Parliament,” Home Secretary Theresa May said on Friday.
The Bell Hotel in Epping, just north of London, has seen weeks of anti-immigration demonstrations and counter protests since an Ethiopian asylum seeker living in the hotel was charged last month with sexual assault. He denies the charges.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has pledged to end the costly practice of housing the thousands of asylum seekers arriving in small boats in hotels around the country, but has said it will do so in a gradual manner.
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Epping council’s successful legal action to have migrants removed from the Bell Hotel has spurred other local councils to consider similar action, pressuring the government’s ability to comply with its legal duty to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.
“We’re going to close all asylum hotels in this Parliament,” Jarvis told broadcasters. “But this needs to be done in an ordered and managed fashion, and that’s why we’ve taken the decision to appeal the legal ruling.”
Hundreds of people have protested outside the Bell Hotel in recent weeks, with 16 people also having been charged in relation to what police described as criminal disorder. Similar protests have been held outside other hotels housing migrants.
Starmer has been facing criticism over his immigration policies after official figures on Thursday showed asylum claims at a record high, with more migrants being housed in hotels compared with a year ago.
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Immigration has overtaken the economy as the number one issue for the British public, according to at least two regular trackers of voters’ concerns.
(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kate Holton)
Government to appeal against Epping asylum hotel ruling – minister
The High Court has refused to block the use of a hotel to house asylum seekers. The decision means the hotel will be able to continue to host asylum seekers in the town of Epping. The hotel is in the centre of a row over who has the right to use the hotel as an asylum centre. The High Court ruled that the hotel should be allowed to remain open for the duration of the case. But the hotel has appealed the decision, saying that the decision is not in the public interest. The court said that it would have to make a decision by the end of the month to allow the hotel to stay open until the case can be heard again. The case is expected to be heard in the next few days.
The Home Office will seek to appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping, the security minister has said.
Dan Jarvis said the Government would appeal against the decision on Friday, which if successful would open the way for a wider appeal against a temporary injunction blocking the Home Office from using the Bell Hotel as asylum accommodation.
He told broadcasters: “This Government will close all asylum hotels and we will clear up the mess that we inherited from the previous government.
“We’ve made a commitment that we will close all of the asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, but we need to do that in a managed and ordered way.
“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision.”
The move comes after the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council the temporary injunction on Tuesday that blocked asylum seekers from being housed in the hotel from September 12.
The local authority had sought legal action after the accommodation site had been at the centre of protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl, which he denies.
Before judgment was handed down on Tuesday, barristers for the Home Office asked to intervene in the case, citing the “substantial impact” caused to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in performing her legal duties to asylum seekers.
They argued moving asylum seekers in the short period would cause “particular acute difficulties” for the Government.
But the bid was dismissed by Mr Justice Eyre who said the department’s involvement was “not necessary”.
The judge also refused to give Somani Hotels Limited, which owns the Bell Hotel in Epping, the green light to challenge his ruling granting Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction.
Barristers for the company had asked to be allowed to appeal against the ruling, citing its “wide-reaching ramifications” including the impact it could have on the wider strategy and statutory duty for the Home Secretary to house asylum seekers.
But Mr Justice Eyre said that he was “not persuaded there is such a compelling reason”.
Somani Hotels could still ask the Court of Appeal for the go-ahead to challenge the ruling.
Since the injunction was granted, councils across the country controlled by Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK are investigating whether they could also pursue legal challenges against asylum hotels.
A wave of protests outside hotels used to temporarily house asylum seekers is expected in the coming days.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “It is completely wrong that the Labour Government is taking legal action to keep open the Bell Hotel.
“The Government isn’t listening to the public or to the courts.
“Instead of trying to keep illegal immigrants in expensive hotels, the Conservatives would remove all illegal arrivals, put in place a real deterrent and ensure towns like Epping are never put in this position again.”
Government takes first step in appealing court ruling banning asylum seekers from Epping hotel
The Home Office is seeking permission to intervene in the case. If granted, it will allow it to appeal the interim judgment handed down last week. Epping Forest District Council sought an interim High Court injunction to stop migrants from being accommodated at The Bell Hotel in Epping. 18 other councils are also actively pursuing or considering legal challenges to block asylum hotels – including Labour-controlled Tamworth and Wirral. A wave of protests is expected outside of asylum hotels across the country in the coming days. Stand Up To Racism is preparing to hold counter-protests outside the asylum hotels on Friday, including in Bournemouth, Cardiff and Leeds. The number of small boat crossings in the Channel is also up 38% on the previous 12 months. There are more than 32,000 asylum seekers currently staying in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour’s first year in office. The Home Office says it will close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament.
The Home Office is seeking permission to intervene in the case, which, if granted, will allow it to appeal the interim judgment handed down last week.
Epping Forest District Council sought an interim High Court injunction to stop migrants from being accommodated at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is owned by Somani Hotels Limited.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:38 Councils vs migrant hotels: What next?
The interim injunction demanded the hotel be cleared of its occupants within 14 days.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Eyre granted the temporary block, but extended the time limit by which it must stop housing asylum seekers to 12 September.
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Security minister Dan Jarvis said closing hotels housing asylum seekers must be done “in a managed and ordered way” as he unveiled government plans to challenge the High Court’s decision.
He told broadcasters: “This government will close all asylum hotels and we will clear up the mess that we inherited from the previous government.
“We’ve made a commitment that we will close all of the asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, but we need to do that in a managed and ordered way.
“And that’s why we’ll appeal this decision.”
An analysis by Sky News has found 18 other councils are also actively pursuing or considering similar legal challenges to block asylum hotels – including Labour-controlled Tamworth and Wirral.
Disquiet with the use of asylum hotels is at a high after the latest statistics showed there were more than 32,000 asylum seekers currently staying in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour’s first year in office.
The number of small boat crossings in the Channel is also up 38% on the previous 12 months.
Following the Epping case, a wave of protests is expected outside of asylum hotels across the country in the coming days.
Stand Up To Racism is preparing to hold counter-protests outside the asylum hotels on Friday, including in Bournemouth, Cardiff and Leeds, with further demonstrations expected on Saturday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:03 ‘We can’t take them’: Wirral residents on migration
In its case, Epping Forest District Council argued that the owners of the Bell Hotel did not have planning permission to use the premises to accommodate asylum seekers.
It argued that the injunction was needed amid “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” in connection with the accommodation.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the people of Epping who protested and its council have “led the way”, writing in The Telegraph that “our country’s patience has snapped”.
His Conservative colleague Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said on Thursday that people have “every right” to protest over asylum hotels in their areas.
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has urged councils to explore legal challenges – with Conservative-run Broxbourne Council announcing that it would do so.
Read more:
A council-by-council breakdown of asylum seekers in hotels
Who says what on asylum hotels?
Labour smell dirty tricks over asylum hotel court ruling
Hillingdon Council, which is also controlled by the Tories, also said it was exploring its options.
Meanwhile, former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf told Sky News three councils run by his party had the power to mount legal challenges.
He said West Northamptonshire, which Reform seized control of in May’s local elections, would be doing so.
In a further headache for Sir Keir Starmer, Labour-controlled councils are also considering legal action, including Wirral and Tamworth.
Paula Basnett, the Labour leader of Wirral council, said: “We are actively considering all options available to us to ensure that any use of hotels or other premises in Wirral is lawful and does not ride roughshod over planning regulations or the wishes of our communities.”
Carol Dean, the Labour leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said she understood the “strong feelings” of residents about the use of a local hotel to house asylum seekers, and added: “We are closely monitoring developments and reviewing our legal position”.
Labour-controlled Stevenage council added: “The council takes breaches of planning control seriously and we’re actively investigating alleged breaches relating to the operation of hotels in Stevenage.”