MP calls on government to end use of Rotherham hotel for asylum seekers as 50 hotels to be closed

Robert Jenrick, minister for immigration, told the House of Commons today (October 24) that the government will move asylum seekers out of 50 hotels by the end of January.

There are currently no plans to open new sites, with occupants being moved to existing sites such as RAF Scampton.

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, has called upon the Minister to end the Home Office contract with the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, where approximately 130 asylum seekers are housed.

In his letter to Mr Jenrick, Mr Healey added: “Our Manvers hotel has been used by the Home Office as an asylum hotel for over 18 months now, despite repeated objections from Rotherham Council, local residents and me as their local MP.

“The hotel and the Manvers area are totally unsuited to house asylum seekers and I wrote again last month to the Home Secretary asking for clarification on whether the contract would be extended beyond October 2023.

“I am writing today to ask you to release our Manvers hotel in line with the previous commitments I’ve been given by Ministers that its use as an asylum hotel would be a on a “temporary basis”.

“I am also set to meet with the owners of the hotel next week to make clear to them that I remain determined to see the hotel back open operating as a hotel.”

Latest figures from the Home Office show the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels has risen to £8 million a day.