UK closes 13 more asylum hotels

The UK government has announced the closure of an additional 13 hotels used to house asylum seekers, with the facilities being repurposed for tourism, business, and other local uses. This brings the total number of asylum hotels closed this year to 44, with fewer than 160 remaining in use. The closures are expected to save taxpayers £51 million, adding to the £224 million in savings anticipated this year.

The government's plan aims to move asylum seekers to larger, basic facilities, such as former military sites, to reduce pressure on the asylum system and cut accommodation costs. The latest closures include hotels in Blackpool, Nottingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lewisham, Bradford, and Norwich. The Home Office is also seeking to extend the use of existing military sites and has begun discussions on the use of three former Ministry of Defence sites for asylum accommodation.

Immigration Minister Anna Turley stated that the government is determined to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, aiming to restore control at the border and promote fairness in the immigration system.