Kemi Badenoch has backed demands for the government to shut a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of protests. Epping council has unanimously voted for the Bell Hotel to be “immediately and permanently” closed “for the purposes of asylum processing”.
Several demonstrations have been held outside the hotel since 13 July, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Police have arrested 18 people and charged nine in connection with the protests.
Mrs Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, said she agreed with one of her MPs, Neil Hudson, who said the hotel should be shut down.
“Yes, I do agree with Neil Hudson. This is something that I as an Essex MP, have also stated, I gave an interview earlier this week where I said that those people who are protesting are having legitimate protest,” she told Sky News.
“Lots of agitators are coming and trying to whip them up, but they’re explaining that what’s happening in their community is not right.
“We saw someone from that hotel commit a crime. What we need to do is make sure that we process these applications quickly and try and make sure that we don’t have so many coming here in the first place.
“That’s why that third country deterrence is so important. You need a joined up plan. We’re talking about the end of the problem rather than the beginning. Let’s start at the beginning of the just very quick. Just how people get here in the first place.”