Council wins ban to move asylum seekers from hotel

Asylum seekers are set to be moved out of a protest-hit hotel in Epping after a judge temporarily blocked them from being housed there.

- HOLLY BANCROFT

Epping Forest District Council won an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel, arguing it had become a “feeding ground for unrest” in recent weeks after a series of violent protests resulted in multiple arrests and saw police officers injured.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper made a last-minute attempt yesterday to halt their removal, arguing that other councils would make similar applications for migrant accommodation in their areas.

However, Mr Justice Eyre dismissed her application and has given the council until 12 September to move asylum seekers out of the hotel. Somani Hotels Limited, which runs the hotel, can apply to the Court of Appeal to try to reverse the decision.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hailed the High Court decision as a victory and said he hoped it “provides inspiration to others across the country”. Mr Farage indicated that the 12 councils where Reform was the largest party would consider legal challenges following yesterday’s ruling. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said the local authorities would do “everything in their power to follow Epping’s lead”.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the ruling as “a moment of relief for the people of Epping”, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said it was “a victory for the mums and dads” in the local area, “who just want their children to be safe”.