Government to Reform Asylum Appeals System

Shiva K Dhakal
www.uknepalpress.com | National Press Corporation (NPC), UK

The UK government has announced plans to overhaul the asylum appeals process in an effort to reduce delays and cut the number of migrants being housed in hotels.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said a new independent body would be set up to hear appeals more swiftly, calling current waiting times “unacceptable.” More than 51,000 appeals are awaiting a decision, with cases taking on average over a year. During this period, failed applicants continue to be accommodated at public expense.

Pressure over asylum hotels

The reforms come amid growing pressure on ministers to end reliance on hotels, where around 32,000 asylum seekers are currently living. The government has pledged to phase out hotel use within this parliament, but local opposition is intensifying.

Protests have been staged in recent weeks across the UK — including in Bristol, Liverpool, London, Perth, and County Antrim — often met by counter-demonstrations from anti-racism groups. Police intervened in several locations to prevent clashes, making a number of arrests.

One flashpoint has been the Bell Hotel in Epping, where tensions rose after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The High Court has since blocked the hotel’s use for asylum housing, ordering residents to be relocated by 12 September. The government is seeking to appeal that ruling.

Political and local reaction

The asylum system has become a divisive political issue. The Conservatives have accused Labour of allowing “chaos,” while Reform UK has demanded mass deportations of irregular arrivals.

Some councils are now considering legal challenges to prevent the use of local hotels, following Epping’s example. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has urged Tory-run councils to pursue legal action where possible.

According to Home Office data, 131 of the UK’s more than 300 local authorities are currently hosting asylum seekers in contingency accommodation, mostly hotels. Of these, 74 are Labour-led, 30 Liberal Democrat, 19 Conservative, nine Green, and one Reform UK.

Cooper said the government remained committed to closing asylum hotels, but stressed it must be done in a “properly managed way.” Further details on the new appeals body are expected in the autumn.