Pledge to speed up closures

Refugee groups slam Cooper

- BY DAVE BURKE Political Correspondent

KEIR Starmer plans to speed up the closure of asylum hotels, saying: "I want them emptied.

The Prime Minister revealed he wants to bring forward his existing 2029 deadline, saying he understands public anger.

He lashed out at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for peddling "fanciful" ideas.

Pressed on his plans to close asylum hotels, Mr Starmer said: "Well, we've said we'll get rid of them by the end of the Parliament. I would like to bring that forward."

The PM said Reform, which has been vocal on migration, "feed on grievance" about migration, adding "they've got no reason to exist" if the contentious issue is solved.

Latest figures show there were over 32,000 asylum seekers being accommodated in 200 hotels at the end of June - down from over 56,000 under the Tories.