Labour’s decision to appeal against a migrant hotel ruling is a “sick joke”, the Tories have said. Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction earlier this week to block asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel in the Essex town, which had been at the centre of protests.
The Government has now said it will appeal the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case. If the move is successful it will clear the way for a wider appeal against the temporary injunction.
But shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This decision is a sick joke on the British public.”
He went on: “The Epping Bell Hotel injunction has been a victory for local people, led by a Conservative council working hard for their community. This is the difference Conservatives in local government deliver.
“In opposition, Labour worked hand-in-glove with activist lawyers to sabotage Conservative immigration plans. In Government, nothing has changed. 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.”
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.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “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.”
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 that 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 ruling has thrown into question the future of migrant hotels where more than 30,000 asylum seekers are currently being housed.