Failures in leadership during the Conservative government resulted in taxpayers being burdened with asylum hotel expenses amounting to billions of pounds, as revealed in a scathing report. Members of Parliament from various parties criticized the Home Office for prioritizing “risky and poorly planned policy measures” in an attempt to address a growing backlog of asylum cases. The report highlighted how the government’s missteps led to private companies profiting significantly while failing to recoup funds.
The long-anticipated report on the asylum hotel crisis, issued by the Home Affairs Select Committee, emphasized the department’s chaotic and inadequate response to the challenges it faced. The number of individuals housed in hotels while awaiting asylum decisions decreased to over 32,000 in June from a high of 56,000 during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as Prime Minister and Robert Jenrick’s term as Immigration Minister in 2023.
The report strongly criticized the government for its lack of due diligence, citing a failure to rein in costs and manage the situation effectively. Members of the committee highlighted a significant cost escalation in asylum accommodation, which surged from an estimated £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion since 2019 due to policy pauses and flawed deportation strategies.
Moreover, the report pointed out that the government overlooked the impact on local services and community cohesion, particularly in disadvantaged areas where asylum hotels were predominantly established. The committee expressed frustration over the absence of mechanisms to recover excessive profits under contracts negotiated by the Conservatives with service providers.
Opposition MP Chris Murray condemned the government for transforming the asylum system into a lucrative venture for private entities. Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged to phase out asylum hotels by 2029 but has yet to outline a clear plan for achieving this goal.
Committee Chair Dame Karen Bradley urged the government to overhaul the asylum accommodation system, emphasizing the need for improved management and accountability to rectify past shortcomings. The report highlighted delays in claiming funds back from accommodation providers and emphasized the urgency of closing hotels to ensure a more humane and community-based asylum system.