Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from within Labour ranks after a landmark High Court ruling in Epping Forest sparked a wave of potential legal challenges from local councils including Labour-led authorities over the government’s use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
On Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council successfully obtained a temporary injunction to shut down the Bell Hotel, where migrants were being housed.
The court ruled the site was in breach of planning rules, requiring all asylum seekers to be removed by September 12. The case has set a significant legal precedent, with other councils now considering similar action.
Read also: UK’s asylum plans in crisis after court orders closure of migrant hotel
Labour-run Wirral and Tamworth councils are among those actively exploring legal avenues. Wirral Council leader Paula Basnett said:
“We have concerns about the Home Office placing asylum seekers in hotels without consultation or proper regard to local planning requirements. If necessary, we will challenge these decisions to protect both residents and those seeking refuge.”
Tamworth Council, where the local Holiday Inn Express was previously the site of violent unrest, said it is reviewing the Epping ruling closely to assess its implications.
The growing movement has prompted senior conservative figures to urge councils to act. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch wrote to all Tory-led authorities, encouraging them to pursue injunctions where possible.
Meanwhile, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick launched a new initiative, Lawyers for Borders, aimed at supporting councils and community groups with legal advice. Jenrick claimed to have received 100 emails within hours, including from planning barristers offering pro bono help.
Other councils, including Hillingdon, Reigate, and Banstead, have said they are studying the Epping decision to determine whether similar legal action could be taken in their areas.
However, not all authorities plan to follow suit. Councils in Newcastle, Ashford, Wychavon, South Staffordshire, and North Yorkshire have ruled out taking legal action.
Reform UK also announced that all 12 county councils it controls would campaign to close asylum hotels. But, some of these councils lack the planning authority needed to pursue court action.
The Epping Forest case turned on the claim that housing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel amounted to a “clear breach of planning permission,” as the property was no longer functioning as a hotel. Home Office lawyers argued that further injunctions could increase pressure on the asylum system and risk inciting unrest arguments the court ultimately rejected.
Currently, over 32,000 asylum seekers are being housed in nearly 210 hotels across the UK, costing the taxpayer more than £5 million per day.
The New Daily Prime had earlier reported that a high court orders closure of migrant hotels as migrant accommodation across the UK remain in crises.
