'Hang your heads in in shame' blast for PM and Cooper as small arrivals hits record

Treasury papers reveal migrants likely to be in hotels for years

- Michael Knowles

SIR Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper should "hang their heads in shame" over Labour's asylum crisis, a senior critic said yesterday.

A record number of migrants have crossed the Channel in the first three months of this year, with some 5,847 people arriving on 106 small boats.

And a Treasury document has revealed many are likely to be held in taxpayer-funded hotel rooms for years.

But the Home Office faced fresh fury after documents - seen by the Daily Express detailed how the department has rejected "alternative housing solutions" because of their costs "despite being cheaper than current contingency hotels".

Asylum accommodation provider Serco has put forward plans for a "range of alternative medium-sized accommodation sites", including converted student accommodation. But the Home Office Property Board has rejected the majority of the proposals, it was said.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "At the election, Labour promised to end the use of asylum hotels. In fact, there are now 8,500 more illegal immigrants in hotels than when they came into power.

"Labour has lost control of our borders, with a 28% increase in illegal immigrants crossing the Channel since the election.