The Bell Hotel in Epping, just outside of London, gets no new bookings, yet is full every night. That’s because, since 2020, it has been used by the government to help house the thousands of asylum seekers who arrive each year on England’s southern coast and become trapped in administrative limbo.

AROUND 30 migrant hotels are bracing for a wave of protests as campaigners are bolstered by this week’s landmark ruling. Unhappy residents are trying to push through a similar move to that

The government is seeking to appeal the High Court's refusal to allow it to intervene in the case of a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping. Earlier this week, Epping Forest District Council was granted a temporary injunction to stop people being placed at the Bell Hotel.

Lawyers say the High Court ruling is likely to serve as a legal and procedural benchmark, shaping how migrant accommodation is managed

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hailed the High Court decision in Epping as a ‘victory’ and said he hoped it ‘provides inspiration to others across the country’, while the shadow home secretary argued that residents have ‘every right to object’ to people being housed in their area.

More councils are now vowing to launch legal challenges over the government’s use of asylum hotels, sparking chaos for Sir Keir Starmer, as Reform UK calls for protests.Councils have announced they are considering action to ban migrants from being housed in their areas after Epping Forest District Council won an interim High Court injunction to stop asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel.