Council demands closure dates for asylum hotels

The leader of a local authority has written to the home secretary to demand clear closure dates and greater transparency over its use of three hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Mark Arnull, leader of the West Northamptonshire Council, said: "The continued lack of confirmed closure dates for West Northamptonshire undermines public confidence, fuels speculation and misinformation, and places local leaders in an impossible position."

The Reform UK-led council believed a breach of planning control had occurred and said it was considering formal enforcement action.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We will close every single asylum hotel, moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation."

Arnull said: "Residents are expected to tolerate open-ended arrangements with no clarity; local services are expected to absorb pressures without warning; and council leaders are expected to answer questions without being given the basic facts."

The council said it was working through the complex legal process required to consider formal enforcement action, which included continuing to gather evidence supported by specialist advice, and a senior officer taskforce has been set up to push the work forward.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain and ramping up removals of those with no right to be here.

"The population in asylum hotels has fallen by nearly 20% in the last year and by 45% since the peak under the previous government - cutting costs by nearly £1bn."

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