A recent report uncovered significant failures in leadership by the Conservative government, resulting in taxpayers being burdened with asylum hotel expenses reaching billions of pounds. Members of Parliament from various political parties criticized the Home Office for implementing “high-risk, poorly planned policies” to address a growing backlog of asylum cases. The report highlighted a series of errors that allowed private companies to profit greatly while the government struggled to recover funds.
In its long-awaited findings on the asylum hotel crisis, the Home Affairs Select Committee criticized the chaotic response of the Home Office, indicating a lack of readiness to handle the situation effectively. The report revealed that over 32,000 individuals were housed in hotels during asylum processing in June, a decrease from the 56,000 housed during the tenure of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister and Robert Jenrick as Immigration Minister in 2023.
The report emphasized that senior leadership failures, shifting priorities, and pressure for quick results led to an inability to control the escalating costs. MPs pointed out a significant rise in the expected 10-year cost of asylum accommodation, attributing the surge to the government’s suspension of processing amid the influx of migrants and its unsuccessful Rwanda deportation initiative.
Moreover, the report criticized the government for failing to evaluate the impact on local services and community cohesion, particularly in disadvantaged areas where asylum hotels were disproportionately located. The committee expressed frustration over contracts that lacked mechanisms to recover excessive profits and urged the need for accountability and proper management of the asylum system.
Various human rights groups have called for the swift closure of asylum hotels, citing the detrimental effects on asylum seekers’ well-being. The Home Office pledged to shut down all asylum hotels by 2029 and has initiated measures to reduce costs and explore alternative accommodation options, such as military bases and unused properties.
