Failures in leadership within the Conservative government resulted in taxpayers being burdened with asylum hotel expenses reaching billions of pounds, according to a critical report.
Members of Parliament from various parties highlighted that the Home Office pursued “high-risk, poorly planned policy solutions” to address a growing backlog of asylum cases, leading to substantial profits for private companies due to the government’s inability to recover funds.
A report released by the Home Affairs Select Committee regarding the asylum hotel crisis criticized the Home Office’s chaotic response, indicating its inadequacy in handling the situation effectively.
The report revealed that in June, over 32,000 individuals were housed in hotels awaiting asylum processing, a decrease from the figure during Rishi Sunak’s tenure as Prime Minister and Robert Jenrick’s time as Immigration Minister in 2023.
The report lambasted the government for neglecting basic due diligence, resulting in uncontrolled costs and a failure to address the escalating asylum accommodation expenses, which tripled from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion since 2019.
Furthermore, the government was accused of overlooking the impact on local services and community cohesion by disproportionately situating asylum hotels in deprived areas, causing skepticism among town councils regarding fair treatment.
The report also criticized the lack of mechanisms to recover excessive profits under contracts agreed upon during the Conservative administration, denouncing the transformation of the asylum system into a lucrative venture for private entities.
While Keir Starmer has pledged to close asylum hotels by 2029, the specifics of this plan remain unclear.
Dame Karen Bradley, a Tory MP and committee chair, voiced concerns over the Home Office’s mismanagement of the asylum accommodation system, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address past failures.
The issue of asylum hotels has sparked public outcry, with protests outside various locations across the country. Despite profit-sharing clauses in contracts, delays in reclaiming funds were described as disappointing by the committee.
The report highlighted the substantial amounts awaiting reimbursement to the Home Office by accommodation providers, expressing the need for these funds to be utilized for public service delivery rather than remaining idle in private accounts.
MPs criticized the Home Office for disregarding warnings and failing to provide adequate oversight and assurance of performance, labeling it as an unacceptable failure of accountability.
Human rights organizations have called for the swift closure of asylum hotels, citing their negative impact on individuals seeking safety and emphasizing the urgent need for a more dignified and community-based asylum accommodation system.
The Refugee Council’s chief executive urged the Home Office to expedite asylum applications, proposing the possible closure of hotels as early as next year.
In response, a Home Office spokesperson expressed the government’s determination to close all asylum hotels to reduce costs and combat illegal migration, highlighting steps already taken to address the issue, including the exploration of alternative accommodations.