Frontrunners hail closure of asylum hotel facility

LABOUR'S candidate in the upcoming Runcorn and Helsby by-election has welcomed news the Daresbury Park asylum hotel is to be closed.

- BY MARK SMITH Local Democracy Reporter

Karen Shore, who is aiming to replace Mike Amesbury when voters go to the polls on May 1, was responding to news Daresbury Park will be one of several hotels to be shuttered by the Home Office. It has been used to house asylum seekers for several years.

Ms Shore who previously served as deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council before stepping down to fight the election had taken some flak when calling for the hotel to be closed during the launch of her campaign. But she said the move was part of a wider Labour election manifesto pledge.