Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Sammy Gecsoyler and Helen Pidd

Labour must act to close asylum hotels or face Reform poll gains, ex-minister warns

Police officers and people carrying union and cross of St George flags stand in a car park outside the hotel
Police officers and protesters stand outside the Bell Hotel in Epping after the court of appeal’s decision on Friday. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/AFP/Getty

A former Labour justice secretary has warned that Reform UK will continue to rise in opinion polls unless the government moves faster to close hotels housing people seeking asylum.

On Friday, the government won a court of appeal challenge against an injunction by Epping Forest district council that would have resulted in 130 asylum seekers being moved out of the Bell hotel. In recent weeks the hotel has become the focus of repeated protests, some of which have been orchestrated by far-right extremists and have turned violent.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.