LBC broadcaster Nick Ferrari reacted with rage to the Home Office suggesting that “meeting the human rights of migrants by putting them in hotels outweighs the safety concerns of local families” on Friday’s radio show. The 67-year-old didn’t hold back and began: “How dare they? How bl**dy dare they?
“A government department putting forward the idea that the need to meet the human rights of asylum seekers by housing them in hotels outweighs the safety concerns of local families…
“I will say it again. How bl**dy dare they? Who is paying the council tax that pays for the local authority that is quite rightly trying to look after the interests, and possible safety – bear in mind there is a case going before the courts – possible safety of some citizens?”
Continuing his monologue, the journalist raged: “I look forward to speaking with the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who might not have personally authorised that, but it’s come from her department.”
He shared a statement which read: “‘An injunction blocking asylum seekers from staying at the hotel in Epping, in Essex, set a precedent that would encourage similar action by other councils.’ Extraordinary.”
It comes after The Bell Hotel in Epping and Home Office lawyers challenged a High Court ruling to prevent migrants from living in the building.
A judge ordered 138 asylum seekers to be removed from the hotel by 4pm on September 12 after legal action by Epping Forest District Council.
Judges considering an appeal against the ruling are expected to give their verdict by 2pm today (Friday, August 29).
All 80 rooms in the Epping hotel have been occupied by asylum seekers since April.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock told Sky News: “What we don’t want to have is a disorderly discharge from every hotel in the country, which would actually have far worse consequences than what we currently have, in terms of the impact that would have on asylum seekers potentially living destitute in the streets.”
When asked where the migrants would be moved, he replied: “We’ve got a whole range of options – disused warehouses, disused office blocks, disused military barracks.”
