Number of migrants in asylum seeker hotels rises despite Labour pledge to end their use

More than 36,000 asylum seekers were housed in Home Office hotels in September, despite Labor’s pledge to reduce their use, new data shows; This is a two percent increase year-on-year.

Data published by the Home Office on Thursday showed 36,273 asylum seekers were temporarily housed in hotels in England as of the end of September. Three months ago the figure was 32,041, representing a 13 percent increase since June. The latest figure is at the same point in September 2024, when there were 35,628 refugees in hotels.

New data shows the number of asylum seekers in hotels under the Conservatives peaked at 56,018 at the end of September 2023, but fell to a record low of 29,561 at the end of June 2024.

In the period to September, 51,000 people arrived via irregular routes such as small boats or trucks. 89 percent of them came by small boats; approximately 46,000 people made the perilous journey across the Channel; There was a 53 percent increase compared to the previous year.

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