'Every patriotic council should follow Epping's lead and seek an injunction

COUNCIL chiefs are being encouraged to mount more legal challenges against migrant hotels after Labour's asylum plans were left in tatters.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has written to authorities urging them to explore planning laws and apply for injunctions to close asylum hotels.

And Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick called for barristers to “join the fight” in a new movement called “Lawyers for Borders” to work with “patriotic” councils and communities calling for an end to the scandal which is costing £5.77million a day.

It comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper faced growing pressure to house migrants in camps after a bombshell court ruling threw Labour's plans into disarray.

Ministers are braced for a surge in legal challenges from authorities after Epping Forest District Council, led by Chris Whitbread, was granted a temporary injunction to prevent asylum seekers being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Conservative councils were sent draft motions to send to a vote and force local authority legal teams to “urgently assess” the merits of an injunction. The prepared text, seen by the Daily Express, states: “This council resolves to request the chief executive, in consultation with the legal team, to urgently assess the merits of seeking an injunction to prevent the use of hotels for migrant accommodation where it is deemed in the best interests of the community.

“To write to the Home Office expressing this council’s concerns about the use of hotels in our area for migrant accommodation and to request full consultation with this council on any future decisions.”

Mrs Badenoch said: “In the case of Epping, this challenge was brought under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

“I am encouraging Conservative council leaders to take the same steps if your legal advice supports it.

“Of course, when councils make planning decisions it is important that due process is followed and decisions by planning councillors should be made with an open mind.