A LABOUR big beast last night warned Sir Keir Starmer to “get a grip” on asylum or risk losing more votes to Reform.
It comes as the Government faces a humiliating revolt with more than 50 councils, including four Labour-run authorities, plotting legal action to shut down hotels housing migrants amid fury over The Bell in Epping, Essex, staying open.
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned to ‘get a grip’ on asylum or risk losing more votes to Reform[/caption]
Charlie Falconer said Nigel Farage’s Reform party will continue to rise in opinion polls unless the Government moves faster to close migrant hotels[/caption]
A protest in the North East as anger over migrant hotels rose across the UK[/caption]
Last night, police made five arrests when a group of masked men among 500 protesters tried to enter the Crowne Plaza hotel in West Drayton, near Heathrow, West London, where migrants are housed.
Former Justice Secretary Charlie Falconer said Nigel Farage’s Reform party will continue to rise in opinion polls unless the Government move faster to close migrant hotels.
Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4: “The Government always has the burden of doing what’s possible and the Government is doing the right thing in relation to it.
“But there’s a lot more to do and if we don’t, as a government, do it, then you’ll see those opinion polls raised yet further for Reform, because they don’t have the burden of having to be practical.”
Labour heavyweights like Jack Straw have urged the PM to “decouple” from the European Convention on Human Rights and Lord Blunkett has called for its suspension.
Lord Falconer stopped short of pushing to leave the ECHR, which is seen as a major blocker on deportations, claiming it would mean “deporting people back into danger”.
At least four Labour local authorities are said to be planning legal battles to shut down migrant hotels – Stevenage, Tamworth, Rushmoor and Wirral.
Reform UK has called for all 12 of its councils to explore options to close hotels following crimes allegedly committed by residents.
And 40 Conservative-run local authorities are planning similar legal moves.
A flurry of court challenges is expected imminently with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch encouraging legal action after hosting a meeting with planning lawyers.
She said: “I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting for residents, so we will keep working with them every step of the way.”
And Tory-led Spelthorne Council in Surrey said there had been “no change” in its plans for enforcement action — with an emergency meeting set for Thursday.
It wants to challenge a change of use allowing the Stanwell Hotel in Staines to only house single men instead of women and families.
Yesterday, new clashes erupted with cops as around 500 protesters descended on the Crowne Plaza London Heathrow hotel in West Drayton, West London.
The Met arrested five people after masked men damaged security fences in attempting to storm the four-star hotel.
Two police officers suffered minor injuries.
Police surround a protester in Epping, Essex[/caption]
Crowds of anti-migrant hotel demonstrators with flags gather outside the Crowne Plaza hotel in West Drayton, London[/caption]
Protesters clashed with cops outside the Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt, Herts[/caption]
It comes after a landmark judgment in favour of the Home Office to allow migrants to stay at the Bell Hotel in Epping.
Police arrested three protesters and two cops were injured as local anger spilled over when a Section 14 dispersal order was issued there on Friday night.
Another protest, “Save Our Kids”, is planned there today. Cops yesterday were erecting new barriers outside.
Some arrived in Epping on Friday from Cheshunt, Herts, where protesters clashed with cops outside the Delta Marriott Hotel.
Elsewhere, a grinning migrant was pictured giving demonstrators the middle finger from his room at the Roundhouse Hotel, Bournemouth.
Thousands of protesters chanting “stop the boats” also gathered outside asylum hotels across Newcastle upon Tyne, Broxbourne, Swindon, Oldham and Stoke-on-Trent.
PM Keir Starmer responded by writing on X: “I am clear: we will not reward illegal entry. If you cross the Channel unlawfully, you will be detained and sent back.”
The Government has won for now – but what happens next?
THE government may have won today’s battle but does it mean they have won the war?
It needs to be remembered that the original order was a temporary one – although it did mean migrants in the Bell Hotel would have to pack up by September 12.
The case was set to return to court in October to lay out the next steps for a potential final injunction.
This would have had a far-reaching impact on councils across Britain had the order become permanent.
But the Court of Appeal’s ruling today may effectively have put an end to the Bell Hotel saga – and even potentially the controversy surrounding migrant hotels, at least from a legal standpoint.
It seems unlikely that other councils will follow through on their own plans to hold the hotel owners – and the government – to account and get migrants in their towns and cities booted out.
Defeated Epping Council today vowed to plough ahead with the October hearing but only if “that’s still possible”.
If the case does not go ahead – or does and they lose again – the ruling could only really change now if Epping launch an appeal bid to the Supreme Court.
However this seems unlikely given the damning nature of today’s decision.
For now, it appears the migrants at the Bell Hotel will be staying put.