By Giuseppe De Santis
The length and breath of the United Kingdom, local residents are protesting the government’s decision to use hotels to accommodate asylum seekers. Notably, there have been continuous protests in Epping, Essex. These demonstrations have gained significant attention, with members of the British Democrats participating.
Due to the Epping protests, Epping Forest District Council requested a High Court judge to issue an interim injunction preventing the housing of asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel.
The protesters erupted in cheers when they received the news that the High Court action was successful. This ruling mandates the hotel to cease housing asylum seekers within 14 days, a significant victory for the local residents.
This situation may lead some to believe that Labour politicians would reconsider their refugee policies. However, they plan to appeal the Epping ruling. They are also finding alternative ways to house asylum seekers, such as through private rentals, even in areas where local residents are against it.
Portsmouth City Council reported that 55 private rental properties were housing at least three asylum seekers each as of last week.
The migrants have been staying in homes of multiple occupation (HMO), not council housing, at the taxpayer’s expense. An HMO is a building, or part of a building such as a flat, where one of the following applies: it is occupied by three or more people from more than one household and shares an amenity, such as a bathroom, toilet or cooking facilities.
Just two years ago, James Hill, Portsmouth’s Director of Housing, informed the Home Office that the system’s capacity was insufficient to support additional asylum seekers.
However, during a public meeting held in July by Amanda Martin, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, it was reported that the number of private rentals being used to house asylum seekers had risen from 10 at the end of 2019 to 58 in April 2024, a decision made in coordination with the Home Office.
Portsmouth City Council stated that it was never informed about the use of the properties to accommodate asylum seekers.
This situation raises a crucial question: how many councils are in a similar position as Portsmouth, and how many refugees is the government sending without informing local authorities, potentially to avoid local protests? This issue has the potential to be a wider systemic problem that demands our attention.
The British Democrats are committed to putting an end to the migrant invasion with a practical and urgent plan. See how we would initially deal with the problem by implementing the points below:
✅ Deploy the Royal Navy to turn back illegal boats in the Channel.
✅ Deport all illegal migrants and foreign criminals.
✅ Withdraw from the UN 1951 Refugee Convention—end bogus asylum claims.
✅ Leave the ECHR—stop lawyers from blocking deportations.
✅ Stop paying France hundreds of millions to prevent boat crossings—it’s not working! Instead, reinvest in the UK’s border defence.
✅ An immediate ten-year halt to immigration. Our small country is overcrowded.
✅ Rest assured, safety and security for British families will be our unwavering priority.
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