The Tory party is set to force Labour to prioritise residents over migrants by proposing new plans that would require communities to be consulted before hotels are converted to house asylum seekers.
The amendments would mean local authorities have more say in decisions around accommodating asylum seekers in hotels or shared housing.
Under the proposals, local communities are to be consulted before properties are converted as part of the planning process.
It comes after the Home Office was successful in overturning a temporary injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council which would have required the removal of asylum seekers from The Bell Hotel.
The council claimed that the hotel operator, Somani Hotels, had breached planning rules to house the migrants.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Keir Starmer showed he prioritised the rights of illegal immigrants over the rights of the British people”.
She added: “With this amendment, Starmer and Labour are going to have to decide again whether they will continue to ride roughshod over communities as they push asylum hotels into Britain’s towns and cities.”
A Labour Party spokesman said in response: “During the 10 months that Kemi Badenoch was the Minister for Local Government the number of asylum hotels went up from 140 to 240, and not a single one of the local authorities she was supposed to represent in Whitehall were asked for permission during that time.”
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Protests continue outside The Bell Hotel in Epping following the Home Office court victory
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More than 12 councils are said to be getting ready to take legal action against the Government over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels, despite the Home Office’s court victory.
On Friday, Mrs Badenoch urged councils to continue their legal actions, describing the Court of Appeal ruling as a “setback”, but adding it is “not the end”.
The party leader said in a statement: “I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels – KEEP GOING!
“Every case has different circumstances, and I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting for residents, so we will keep working with them every step of the way.”
Kemi Badenoch has urged Conservative-run councils seeking legal action against asylum hotels to ‘keep going’
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She continued: “Only the Conservatives have a thorough plan to expand detention, remove every illegal arrival, and end the asylum hotel scourge once and for all. No ifs, no buts.”
The Conservatives have accused housing secretary Angela Rayner of leaving councils in the dark by failing to explain whether converting a hotel to house migrants is considered a “change of use”.
“Labour has left councils in the dark, refusing to say whether turning a hotel into an asylum hostel counts as a change of use,” said shadow home secretary James Cleverly.
“That failure of basic guidance has left local authorities rudderless and handed the planning system over to lawyers and judges.
James Cleverly has accused Labour of leaving councils ‘in the dark’
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“Angela Rayner has ducked every question on this, promising vaguely to end hotel use while providing no framework for how councils are supposed to handle it in the meantime.”
Following the court ruling on The Bell Hotel, a series of protests have been staged across the country over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
This includes in Epping, where three people were arrested after protesters marched to the town’s council offices over the weekend.
In Canary Wharf, London, a police officer was punched in the face after violence broke out during protests on Sunday, August 31, afternoon.
Three people were arrested in Epping after protesters marched to the town’s council offices
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A group of protesters entered Canary Wharf shopping centre where a “small number” wearing masks “became aggressive”, the Metropolitan Police said.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of offences including common assault, possession of class A and B drugs, assault on police/public order offences and failure to disperse.
“One of our officers was punched in the face – luckily they did not suffered significant injury,” the force said in a statement.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has accused Reform UK of stoking tensions over asylum hotels as protests continue.
Protesters were filmed entering the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre on Sunday
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XMs Phillipson said “whipping up anger” serves the political interests of Nigel Farage’s party.
“I understand the frustration that people feel, because I understand when they see, for example, asylum hotels and big numbers of people in their community, I understand how that can make people feel,” she told Sky News.
“Of course, there can be no excuse for what is rightful protest, overstepping the mark.
“But Nigel Farage and Reform, they don’t actually want to sort this problem. It’s in their interests… he thinks their political interests are served by whipping up anger rather than fixing problems.”
Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice however rubbished the claims, saying it is “ridiculous” to suggest the party supports anything other than lawful, peaceful protests.