Hotel judge 'made errors in principle'

THE Government has been criticised for “putting the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people” after it won a court challenge which means asylum seekers can continue to be housed at an Essex hotel.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Somani Hotels, which owns the Bell Hotel in Epping, and the Home Office challenged a High Court ruling which would have stopped 138 asylum seekers being housed there beyond September 12.

In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Eyre granted Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) an interim injunction after the authority claimed that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules by using the Bell as accommodation for asylum seekers.

But ministers were criticised for challenging the move and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Local communities should not pay the price for Labour's total failure on illegal immigration.

“Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.”