The Home Office is desperately scrambling to keep The Bell Hotel open for migrants, it has emerged.
Ministers on Friday confirmed they confirmed they are appealing the High Court’s decision to refuse Home Secretary Yvette Cooper the right to intervene in the Epping legal case.
Judge Mr Justice Eyre granted a temporary injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed in the community in Epping.
Community leaders and politicians declared Tuesday’s bombshell legal ruling a “victory for the mums and dads”.
But Security Minister 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.
The High Court ruling threw Labour’s asylum accommodation plans into turmoil by putting the future of more than 200 hotels at risk.
Councils across the country are plotting similar legal bids to close migrant hotels.
Home Office figures – covering Labour’s first full year in office – show there are still 32,059 migrants living in hotels.
This is up 8% from 29,585 in the year to June 2024.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
