Furious row erupts over migrant hotel crisis as Keir Starmer given urgent warning

A furious blame game erupted over the migrant hotel crisis as Sir Keir Starmer was warned protests could sweep the country.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Express the Prime Minister is "deluded" if he thinks people "won't notice" asylum seekers being moved into communities across the country.

The former Immigration Minister joined protesters in Epping on Sunday, adding "people are right to be fed up of illegal migration".

Ministers are scrambling to close 210 asylum hotels amid fears over the extortionate cost to taxpayers, with tens of thousands of people set to be moved into "dispersal accommodation" - houses, flats and bedsits - over the coming years.

But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on Monday branded Mr Jenrick a "fraud" and Zia Yusuf accused him of being "staggeringly shameless", adding "you were boasting about how many hotels you were booking for illegal migrants".

The Reform duo were referring to a comment in November 2022, when the top Tory said: "More hotels have been coming online almost every month throughout the whole year. What I have done is procure even more."

Mr Farage declared: "Jenrick is a fraud. I've always thought so, this quote proves it."

Mr Yusuf added: "Less than three years ago, as immigration minister, you were boasting about how many hotels you were booking for illegal migrants. Staggeringly shameless."

Mr Jenrick joined protesters outside the Bell Hotel in Essex, which has been at the centre of weeks of protests amid concerns over community cohesion.

He told the Daily Express: "Labour are trying everything other than deporting illegal migrants. If they think people won't notice illegal migrants in HMOs they are deluded.

"People are rightly concerned about illegal migrants, about which we know very little, being forced upon them in any form in their communities.

"Unless Starmer acts, we are going to see more protests popping up across the country."

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Jenrick added: "I think the patience of the British public has snapped. Frankly, it snapped a long time ago. People are absolutely sick to their back teeth of what's happening here and up and down the country and for good reason.

"Each one of them is going to cost us half a million pounds if they stay. This has to come to an end, and I wanted to come here today to show my support for the fair-minded patriotic people here who are out protesting every weekend.

"They're right to do so. They're right to be angry and frustrated, and they're right to be demanding change, because this has got to stop. Enough is enough."

Ministers have set aside £500m to invest in a "new, more sustainable accommodation model" as they scramble to close 210 migrant hotels.

Some 32,345 asylum seekers are living in hotels, while 66,683 are living in "dispersal accommodation" - houses, flats and bedsits - across the country.

Lord David Hanson, a Home Office minister, revealed ministers have set aside £500 million to move migrants out of hotels and into communities across the UK. They insist this will be "developed in consultation with local authorities".

This "basic" accommodation, under the new cross-Government model, will be "used on a temporary basis" to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed.

Under one proposal, the Government could pay councils to buy or renovate properties.

Former student accommodation, abandoned care homes, empty tower blocks and converted houses and flats could also be used to house asylum seekers.

Labour wants to close every migrant hotel within four years - but the number being used has increased since the General Election.

Protests have swept across the country in recent weeks

A report by The Migration Observatory found 84% of local authorities now have asylum accommodation.

By contrast, just one in hour hosted asylum seekers in 2014, highlighting the pressure many communities are now under.

Researchers claimed it costs taxpayers £170 a night for migrants to stay in hotel rooms, down from £176 in 2023/24.

Defending the protests, Reform UK's Andrea Jenkyns told GB News: "I want to focus on the people. The British public didn't ask for this, and they've had no say in this with both Governments.

"I wouldn't want it on my doorstep. And I don't blame every parent out there going out to peacefully protest for your children's safety and your children's future, I found it heartbreaking."

Mrs Jenkyns highlighted how he was Immigration Minister for "years" and didn't take such action.

Ms Jenkyns concluded: "Robert is still a mate, and I think anybody who goes to call it out, brilliant. But we cannot forget that Robert was the Immigration Minister.

"How many years was he the minister? Even as a backbencher, I was speaking out, holding debates and challenging the Government on it."