The variety of asylum seekers housed in motels has risen by 8% since Labour got here to energy, the most recent authorities figures present.
The newest House Workplace information revealed there have been 32,059 asylum seekers in motels on the finish of June – up from 29,585 in June 2024.
There have been 8% extra staying in motels in comparison with final 12 months, nonetheless, the share of asylum seekers staying in motels remained the identical at 30% resulting from extra asylum seekers total.
Labour got here to energy on 5 July final 12 months, with Sir Keir Starmer promising to finish “the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this parliament”.
June’s determine for migrant motels was simply 286 folks fewer than the earlier quarter, from January to March this 12 months.
Thursday’s information is 43% decrease than the height of 56,042, recorded on the finish of September 2023.
Extra on Migrant Crossings
It was launched simply days after Epping Forest District Council gained an injunction on the Excessive Court docket to dam asylum seekers from lodging at The Bell Resort following a sequence of violent protests towards them being there.
Different councils are actually contemplating whether or not they need to additionally launch authorized motion based mostly on resort homeowners not having planning permission to accommodate migrants.
The newest information exhibits Epping had 55 asylum seekers in March, with 51% of these in motels, however by the top of June that rose to 221, with 90% in motels.
The Migration Observatory estimates housing asylum seekers in motels is six occasions costlier than different types of lodging, with a every day value per asylum seeker of £170 in a resort in contrast with £27 for different lodging.
Whole asylum seekers reaches document excessive
Thursday’s information exhibits the full variety of folks making use of for asylum since Labour got here to energy reached a document excessive for a 12-month interval since data started in 2001.
The info exhibits a complete of 111,084 folks utilized for asylum within the 12 months to June 2025.
That is up 14% from 97,107 in contrast with June 2024.
The earlier document for a 12-month interval was 109,343 within the 12 months to March 2025 – masking three quarters of Labour’s present tenure.
Nonetheless, the variety of selections being made on asylum claims fell by 13% within the 12 months to June, to 134,037 – although that is nonetheless near document ranges.
Migrants who arrived within the UK in small boats accounted for 39% of the full variety of folks claiming asylum within the 12 months to June.
Nearly all of the UK’s 390 native authorities have asylum seekers of their space, with simply 30 (27 in England, two in Scotland, one in Northern Eire) not having any.
A complete of 91% of native authorities have asylum seekers in them, up from 89% in March whereas 86% had folks claiming asylum in them final June, and simply 27% in 2015.
General immigration down
Whereas the variety of asylum seekers has risen up to now 12 months, total immigration (together with authorized) is 7% decrease than the identical information interval final 12 months which covers the three months earlier than Labour took workplace.
However the 190,920 individuals who got here to the UK each legally and illegally in April, Could and June this 12 months is 68% decrease than the height in from July to September 2023, when a document 596,106 folks got here to the UK.
This has been pushed by a 17% lower within the granting of labor visas and, to a lesser extent, decreases in household and humanitarian visas.
Nonetheless, there was a 20% improve in research visas and a 65% improve in small boat arrivals.
Disagreeable studying for the federal government
Within the context of this week’s deal with asylum motels, this newest information dump from the House Workplace doesn’t make nice studying for the federal government.
The variety of folks being housed in motels in Labour’s first 12 months in workplace is up, small boat arrivals are up as properly.
On condition that, it’s maybe shocking that the variety of asylum seekers in motels didn’t rise by extra.
That might be defined by a reduce within the backlog of individuals ready for his or her claims to be thought of.
Enforced deportations are additionally up by 25% on the earlier 12 months.
Nonetheless, anticipate to listen to Reform and the Tories screaming in regards to the resort and small boat stats within the months forward.
On authorized migration, it’s a distinct story.
Well being and care visas issued to care employees fell by 88% in contrast with the earlier 12 months.
Visas issued to the dependents of scholars have been additionally down 81%.
That every one introduced the variety of whole immigrants who got here within the 12 months to June down by 30% to 891,764.
It’s quite a bit decrease than the peaks of 2023, however nonetheless larger than earlier than Brexit.
The kicker is that it’s being pushed by reforms introduced in beneath the final Conservative authorities.
Labour didn’t oppose these adjustments and have gone additional whereas in workplace, nevertheless it’s debatable how a lot credit score they will declare for the falls.
Such vital adjustments might also set alarm bells off in care properties and universities – two sectors that must regulate to the brand new migration actuality being compelled on them.
Different councils following Epping
Reform UK-led councils are wanting into doing the identical, a handful of Labour-run councils stated they’re contemplating it, and Kemi Badenoch has inspired Conservative-led councils to comply with Epping’s lead.
Tory-run Broxbourne Council introduced it’s exploring its authorized choices.
