UK asylum hotel numbers rise amid legal and political debates
Some Labour councils are considering legal action against housing asylum seekers in hotels, following a court ruling in favor of Epping Forest District Council, which halted asylum housing at the Bell Hotel due to protests and violence. The move reflects ongoing tensions over asylum accommodation, with Conservative and Reform UK councils also contemplating legal challenges, amid a broader debate on immigration and housing policies. The government aims to reduce hotel use for asylum seekers by 2029, but the issue remains contentious.