A recent report uncovered significant failures in leadership by the Conservative government, resulting in taxpayers being burdened with asylum hotel expenses amounting to billions of pounds. Members of Parliament from various parties criticized the Home Office for implementing ineffective and high-risk policies to address a growing backlog of asylum applications, leading to exorbitant profits for private firms and a failure to recoup costs.

The Home Affairs Select Committee’s long-awaited assessment of the asylum hotel crisis highlighted a chaotic and inadequate response from the Home Office, indicating a lack of readiness to handle the situation. The report revealed that over 32,000 individuals were housed in hotels during asylum processing in June, a decrease from the previous figure of 56,000 under the leadership of Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick in 2023.

The report condemned the government for its lack of due diligence, citing a failure to control escalating expenses. MPs raised concerns about a threefold increase in the projected 10-year cost of asylum accommodation from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion since 2019, attributing the rise to processing delays and the ill-fated Rwanda deportation plan pursued by the former administration.

Furthermore, the report criticized the government for not assessing the impact of asylum hotels on local services and community cohesion, particularly in disadvantaged areas. MPs expressed frustration over the absence of mechanisms to recover excessive profits under contracts signed during the Conservative government’s tenure.

Prominent figures, including Labour MP Chris Murray and Tory MP Dame Karen Bradley, emphasized the need for urgent reform in managing the asylum accommodation system to prevent further financial losses. They called for improved oversight and accountability to rectify past shortcomings and ensure a fairer and more efficient asylum process.

Human rights organizations have also joined the call for the closure of asylum hotels, citing the detrimental effects of such accommodations on individuals seeking safety. They urged the government to prioritize a dignified and community-based asylum system, emphasizing the urgency of transforming the current setup.

In response, a Home Office spokesperson highlighted the government’s commitment to closing all asylum hotels to reduce costs and address the issue of illegal migrants in the country. Efforts have already been made to cut asylum expenses and explore alternative accommodation options, including military bases and unused properties, as part of a comprehensive reform strategy.