Labour’s defense secretary, John Healey, has announced an increase in the utilization of military barracks to expedite the closure of hotels housing asylum seekers. Discussions have taken place among defense leaders regarding the potential use of Ministry of Defence facilities to temporarily accommodate individuals arriving via small boats. This move comes as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer to relocate individuals from hotels as part of his commitment to do so by 2029.
Healey emphasized the Government’s intensified efforts to address the asylum system challenges inherited by the Labour party. The newly appointed Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is anticipated to adopt a stringent approach towards emptying asylum hotels, succeeding Yvette Cooper in a recent reshuffle.
Healey disclosed that all government departments have been instructed to contribute to the cause. He stated that military planners have been involved in border command and future planning at the Home Office to explore the potential use of military and civilian sites for temporary housing of individuals arriving on small boats. The objective is to regain control of borders lost over recent years and reinforce public confidence in border security.
Expecting forthcoming announcements from the Prime Minister and the government, Healey hinted at ongoing developments in the coming weeks and months. The number of individuals housed in hotels while awaiting asylum processing stood at 32,000 at the end of June, a decrease from over 56,000 during the previous administration.
Mahmood’s promotion to Home Secretary was a significant highlight of the recent reshuffle. She has been tasked with addressing the challenges within the hotel accommodation system and devising strategies to expedite the relocation of individuals well in advance of 2029. Labour has committed to ending the use of asylum hotels by the end of the current parliamentary term, with Starmer aiming to achieve this goal sooner.
Acknowledged for her effective handling of the prisons crisis as Justice Secretary, Mahmood is expected to announce plans to enhance the utilization of military bases for housing asylum seekers. Currently, two former bases, MDP Wethersfeld in Essex and Napier Barracks in Folkestone, are being utilized for this purpose. Recent protests outside asylum hotels across the nation reflect escalating tensions, particularly following the arrest and conviction of an asylum seeker residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on various criminal charges.