Hotels will continue to be used to house asylum seekers for up to four more years (Image: Getty)

       Asylum seekers will continue to be housed in hotels for up to four more years, the Home Office's top civil servant has said.

       Sir Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, told the Commons Home Affairs Committee that his department's "overarching aim" is to "exit" hotels by the end of the current Parliament, due in August 2029.

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Sponsored

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       宝宝不停地摸肚子–医生发现原因时震惊了热门话题

       Undo

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       673 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       684 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       566 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       934 Comments

       Labour reparations row lays bare before Britain the real issue with Keir Starmer's party

       102 Comments

       Starmer handed chilling six-word warning by ex-army chief over UK's ‘run down' military

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves reveals the way Nigel Farage could become Prime Minister in 2029

       225 Comments

       British Army 'too small' to be deployed to Ukraine for long, Keir Starmer told

       250 Comments

       EU country's 'zero refugee' drive brings asylum claims to record low in lesson for Starmer

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer under fire from top judge who proves exactly what's wrong with UK

       71 Comments

       Reform beat Labour by six points in new poll blow to Keir Starmer

       672 Comments

       'Crazy!' Kemi Badenoch slams Keir Starmer in massive ECHR row

       75 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Fury as Home Office civil servants lounge at home while small boats arrive in droves

       251 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       588 Comments

       Rachel Reeves warned pensioners 'freezing to death' after ￡300 winter fuel payment cut

       141 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Chagos deal plunged into fresh controversy as deal mastermind interrogated

       70 Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       673 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       684 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       566 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       934 Comments

       Labour reparations row lays bare before Britain the real issue with Keir Starmer's party

       102 Comments

       Starmer handed chilling six-word warning by ex-army chief over UK's ‘run down' military

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves reveals the way Nigel Farage could become Prime Minister in 2029

       225 Comments

       British Army 'too small' to be deployed to Ukraine for long, Keir Starmer told

       250 Comments

       EU country's 'zero refugee' drive brings asylum claims to record low in lesson for Starmer

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer under fire from top judge who proves exactly what's wrong with UK

       71 Comments

       Reform beat Labour by six points in new poll blow to Keir Starmer

       672 Comments

       'Crazy!' Kemi Badenoch slams Keir Starmer in massive ECHR row

       75 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Fury as Home Office civil servants lounge at home while small boats arrive in droves

       251 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       588 Comments

       Rachel Reeves warned pensioners 'freezing to death' after ￡300 winter fuel payment cut

       141 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Chagos deal plunged into fresh controversy as deal mastermind interrogated

       70 Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       673 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       684 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       566 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       934 Comments

       His statement to the Committee compares to Labour's pledge to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers within a year of hiring a thousand caseworkers, tasked with reducing a backlog of applications.

       Sir Matthew said: "The overarching aim continues to be to exit hotels by the end of the Parliament, but... the journey is off to a good start. It is down from more than 400 to 218."

       He added the number will continue to go down, but it might also go up on some occasions because it is a statutory obligation to provide accommodation and sometimes hotels are the only possible way of doing so.

       Sponsored

       Rebang 360 了解更多

       世上最好的7种「长寿药」，竟然都是免费的！知道你就赚大了…

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       READ MORE Food delivery service sacks over 100 drivers in illegal immigrant crackdown

       Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Britain spent ￡3bn on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in 2023-24 (Image: Getty)

       Since entering Downing Street, ministers from Sir Keir Starmer's party have admitted ending asylum hotels will take time and vowed to stop their use "as soon as possible".

       The UK spent ￡3billion on hotel accommodation in the financial year 2023-24, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

       Hotel use peaked at 400 under the previous government in the autumn of 2023 when 56,000 asylum seekers were housed in such accommodation.

       The number fell to 213 in July last year but rose again to 220 in October 2024, according to the Telegraph. Border Security Minister, Dame Angela Eagle, acknowledged the net rise of half a dozen hotels, but said nine are due to close by March.

       Spending on accommodation and support for asylum seekers has rocketed from ￡739million in 2019-20 to ￡4.7billion in 2023-24, according to the Committee.

       Don't miss...

       Horror in Channel as migrant dies during crossing with 240 more brought to Dover [REPORT]

       Asylum seekers pooing yards from villagers homes soon to outnumber locals [REVEALED]

       Fury over 'secretive' PR campaign talking Britain down to end Channel crisis [LATEST]

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       The government ended the use of large sites such as the Bibby Stockholm barge (Image: Getty)

       After the General Election, the Government announced a shift away from the use of the large sites, cancelling the planned site at RAF Scampton and ending the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge for housing asylum seekers.

       A Home Office source told the Telegraph the Labour Government is "getting a grip" on the "mess" it inherited, with thousands more asylum decisions made each month.

       They said changes have been made to a so called "move on" period to ensure people leave hotel accommodation smoothly and removals of those who have no right to be in the UK are increasing.

       Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said rules should be enforced whether for foreign criminals in British jails, those who overstay their visas or failed asylum cases.

       The Government source said the Home Office is working with the Ministry of Justice to accelerate the asylum appeals system to take on the asylum appeals backlog.

       Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, said billions are being wasted, with hotel use evidence of failures by the Government.

       He told Express.co.uk: "The use of hotels in communities across the country has become a damaging symbol of government failure and a flashpoint for community tensions.

       "Billions are being wasted on appallingly run contracts with private companies that cream off vast profits.

       "There needs to be a serious plan quickly set out by Government to trigger the contract break clauses due next year and radically reform the system."

       Trending

       Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said all "illegal migrants" should be deported. He told Express.co.uk: "Here's Labour's clever plan to empty the hotels - grant almost all illegal migrants refugee status.

       "That means access to housing, the welfare system, NHS healthcare and more. I don't think we should do that. I think we should deport every single one."

       A Home Office spokesperson said the Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       623 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       666 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       544 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       892 Comments

       Labour reparations row lays bare before Britain the real issue with Keir Starmer's party

       102 Comments

       Starmer handed chilling six-word warning by ex-army chief over UK's ‘run down' military

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves reveals the way Nigel Farage could become Prime Minister in 2029

       225 Comments

       British Army 'too small' to be deployed to Ukraine for long, Keir Starmer told

       250 Comments

       EU country's 'zero refugee' drive brings asylum claims to record low in lesson for Starmer

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer under fire from top judge who proves exactly what's wrong with UK

       71 Comments

       Reform beat Labour by six points in new poll blow to Keir Starmer

       672 Comments

       'Crazy!' Kemi Badenoch slams Keir Starmer in massive ECHR row

       75 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Fury as Home Office civil servants lounge at home while small boats arrive in droves

       251 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       588 Comments

       Rachel Reeves warned pensioners 'freezing to death' after ￡300 winter fuel payment cut

       141 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Chagos deal plunged into fresh controversy as deal mastermind interrogated

       70 Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       623 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       666 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       544 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       892 Comments

       Labour reparations row lays bare before Britain the real issue with Keir Starmer's party

       102 Comments

       Starmer handed chilling six-word warning by ex-army chief over UK's ‘run down' military

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves reveals the way Nigel Farage could become Prime Minister in 2029

       225 Comments

       British Army 'too small' to be deployed to Ukraine for long, Keir Starmer told

       250 Comments

       EU country's 'zero refugee' drive brings asylum claims to record low in lesson for Starmer

       426 Comments

       Keir Starmer under fire from top judge who proves exactly what's wrong with UK

       71 Comments

       Reform beat Labour by six points in new poll blow to Keir Starmer

       672 Comments

       'Crazy!' Kemi Badenoch slams Keir Starmer in massive ECHR row

       75 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Fury as Home Office civil servants lounge at home while small boats arrive in droves

       251 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       588 Comments

       Rachel Reeves warned pensioners 'freezing to death' after ￡300 winter fuel payment cut

       141 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Chagos deal plunged into fresh controversy as deal mastermind interrogated

       70 Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes border vote chaos as he makes major Reform promise

       623 Comments

       Keir Starmer backs call to deport Albanian criminal at centre of chicken nugget row

       14 Comments

       BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce erupts as Labour minister stumbles on migrant question

       666 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       77 Comments

       Migration madness as lefty lawyers threaten block on border controls

       544 Comments

       Keir Starmer to travel to US next week for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

       520 Comments

       Labour's 'tough' immigration crackdown ridiculed as party's 'weakness' exposed

       892 Comments

       They added the Government is "absolutely committed" to ending the use of hotels and since coming into government took "immediate action" to restart asylum processing to begin closing hotels, "surged" the number of returns and established the Border Security Command to dismantle people smuggling gangs.

       The spokesperson also pointed to the removal of more than 19,000 people with no right to be in the UK since Labour took office.

       They said: "We continue to work closely with local authorities to identify a range of alternative accommodation options and drive down the use of hotels further, with nine set to close by the end of March."