Asylum seekers are set to be moved from hotels into former military bases as the Prime Minister presses ahead with “phase two” of his Government, reports say. The plans to use the Ministry of Defence sites could be announced by new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood within weeks, it is claimed.
There has been a wave of nationwide protests outside hotels housing migrants throughout the summer, in what has become one of the Government’s biggest challenges. Labour has pledged to end the use of migrant hotels by 2029 as Sir Keir Starmer comes under growing pressure over his handling of the small boats crisis. Crossings of the English Channel at a record point for this stage in the year — more than 29,000 people as of the end of August.
Dozens of migrant hotels could soon be closed, according to The Telegraph, which broke the news.
Ministers are also understood to be close to agreeing to a ‘One in, One Out’ migrants return deal with Germany.
The UK Government has already launched a pilot of the scheme with France, which political opponents have argued is not a strong enough deterrent.
Both Reform UK and the Conservatives have recently announced they would step up deportations and detentions.
Sir Keir has reportedly told Ms Mahmood to “get a grip” on the small boats crossings after her promotion in the reshuffle following the resignation of Angela Rayner in what has been a disastrous week for Labour.
The scale of the challenge facing the former justice secretary in her new role was illustrated on Saturday, when an estimated 1,000 people arrived in the UK by small boat over the course of the day.
There have been further changes within the Home Office as part of the PM’s shake-up to try to get a hold on immigration.
Former borders minister Dame Angela Eagle and former policing minister Dame Diana Johnson were moved to other departments in the clear-out, while Ms Mahmood’s predecessor Yvette Cooper has become Foreign Secretary.
Sir Keir is believed to have told the Home Office he wants to close all migrant hotels before the 2029 target, The Telegraph reports.
The use of two former military bases currently being used to house asylum seekers has proved controversial.