Asylum hotel numbers rise again despite Labour pledge

More than 36,000 asylum seekers were being housed in Home Office hotels in September, a rise of 2 per cent year on year despite a pledge by Labour to curb their use, new data shows.

- BRYONY GOOCH HOLLY BANCROFT

Data published by the Home Office yesterday showed there were 36,273 asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels by the end of September. Three months earlier, the figure was 32,041, demonstrating a 13 per cent rise since June. The latest figure is also up on the same point in September 2024, when there were 35,628 asylum seekers in hotels.

The number of asylum seekers in hotels peaked at 56,018 at the end of September 2023 under the Conservatives, but fell to 29,561 at the end of June 2024.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced sweeping reforms to the asylum system, which would see refugees having their sanctuary grants reviewed every 30 months. Charity Refugee Council warned yesterday that the changes would place even greater strain on the overstretched system.