High court rules asylum seekers must be moved from protest hotel

Injunction for council plunges PM's migration policies into turmoil

- Kevin Rawlinson Rajeev Syal

Keir Starmer's asylum policies were plunged into turmoil by a court ruling yesterday that blocked people seeking refuge staying in an Essex hotel.

Epping Forest district council was granted an interim injunction to stop migrants being put in the Bell hotel after protests nearby in recent weeks.

Thousands of people, including some rightwing agitators, have been gathering near the hotel since an asylum seeker living there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town.

Ministers are braced for dozens of legal challenges from other council leaders.

Home Office lawyers warned the high court the decision could "substantially impact" the government's ability to put asylum seekers in hotels. In March, more than 30,000 asylum seekers were housed in about 200 hotels in England and Wales.

Insiders at the Home Office admitted that the department had been left "reeling" by the ruling. The department is obliged to house asylum seekers until their cases are assessed.

Reacting to the judgment, the border security minister, Dame Angela Eagle, said: "We will carefully consider this judgment. As this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

Mr Justice Eyre granted the injunction after hearing the council's complaints that the hotel owners had breached planning law by changing the site's use.

Epping district council also cited disruption caused by the protests, which came after two people staying at the hotel were charged with sexual offences, and concerns for the safety of the asylum seekers themselves.