Labour struggles to reduce asylum hotel dependency as over 38,000 migrants remain housed at taxpayer expense across the UK

Despite promises to curb spending on asylum accommodations, the number of migrants housed in taxpayer-funded hotels has surged.

Recent figures reveal that 38,079 asylum seekers were living in hotels at the end of December, a sharp increase from 29,585 in June—marking a 29% rise.

This uptick comes in contrast to Labour’s election manifesto commitment to end the use of asylum hotels, a move they claimed would save billions of pounds.

However, the total number of asylum seekers receiving government support has now reached 112,000, pushing annual expenses to an estimated £5 billion.

Concerns Over Immigration Policy

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has voiced strong criticism over the Labour government’s handling of the issue.

He pointed out that despite pledges to reduce hotel use, the numbers have only climbed.

He also highlighted that only 4% of small boat arrivals have been removed from the UK, questioning whether allowing 96% of illegal immigrants to stay sends the wrong message.

According to the Home Office’s top civil servant, Sir Matthew Rycroft, daily spending on asylum hotels has reached an alarming £5.5 million.

Since the beginning of the Channel crisis in 2018, a total of 151,161 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats, but only 4,995 have been removed through enforced or voluntary measures.

Deportation Numbers Still Lagging

While there was a 28% increase in enforced returns of immigration offenders and foreign criminals last year—totaling 8,164 deportations—this figure remains well below past levels.

In 2012 and 2013, around 15,000 people were sent back annually, showing how much the rate has declined over the years.

Experts Weigh In

Mihnea Cuibus from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory noted that the government has struggled to reduce the number of asylum seekers requiring state-supported accommodations.

He cited multiple factors, including a growing backlog of appeals, more asylum refusals, and an uptick in applications toward the end of the year.

This combination has made it difficult for Labour to fulfill its promise of ending hotel use for migrants.

What’s Next?

With taxpayer costs mounting and criticism intensifying, the government faces pressure to take decisive action.

Will Labour implement alternative accommodation solutions, or will the situation continue to escalate?

For now, the issue remains unresolved, and all eyes are on the government’s next move.