KEIR Starmer has been slammed for putting “illegal immigrants above British people” after the Government appealed a landmark ruling.
The order to boot migrants out of The Bell Hotel in Epping was today plunged into chaos after the Court of Appeal overturned it.
AFPA protester holds up a St George’s cross flag with the slogan “Get Off My Land” outside the High Court in London, today[/caption]
GettyStarmer has been slammed for putting “illegal immigrants above British people” after the Government appealed a landmark ruling[/caption]
PAReform UK party leader Nigel Farage slammed Keir Starmer for the appeal[/caption]
PAThe Court of Appeal today overturned the injunction following an appeal by the Home Office[/caption]
It has been surrounded by controversy after two of its guests were charged with sexual offences.
Epping Forest District Council last week won a bid at the High Court to block migrants from being housed at the hotel.
The temporary injunction meant that the building had to be cleared of its occupants by September 12.
It also caused a ripple effect across the UK as more councils launched their own bids to boot migrants out of hotels in their towns.
The Court of Appeal today overturned the injunction following an appeal by the Home Office and hotel owners Somani – meaning the migrants can stay where they are for now.
It also gave permission for the Home Office to appeal against Mr Justice Eyre’s ruling not to let it intervene in the case as their involvement was “not necessary”.
This risks adding further fuel to the fire.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X: “The government has used ECHR against the people of Epping. Illegal migrants have more rights than the British people under Starmer.”
Communities have turned out in droves to protest outside of hotels across the country.
Many turn up draped in St George’s flags.
Hundreds of the England flags have cropped up in towns and cities, being hung on lampposts and fences as it becomes a symbol of protest against illegal immigrants.
Many have angrily torn them down, arguing that the flags are inflaming tensions.
It came after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made a last-ditch bid to join the battle.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Sir Keir “puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities”.
She urged Conservative councillors seeking similar injunctions to “KEEP GOING!” despite the ruling.
In a statement, Mrs Badenoch said: “Local communities should not pay the price for Labour’s total failure on illegal immigration.
“Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.
“This ruling is a setback, but it is not the end. I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels – KEEP GOING!
“Every case has different circumstances, and I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting for residents, so we will keep working with them every step of the way.”
She said the party will be writing to all Tory councillors with further advice following the judgment.
She added: “Labour have run out of options, so the only answer left is to dump the problem on local communities.”
Shadow Secretary of State Robert Jenrick said on X: “This is an extremely disappointing decision.
“Yvette Cooper used taxpayer money – your money – to keep open a hotel housing illegal migrants.
“The Government’s lawyers argued accommodating illegal migrants was in the ‘national interest’.
“In court they said the right of illegal migrants to free hotels is more important than the rights of the British people. Well, they are not.
“The British Government should always put the interests of the British people first. Starmer’s Government has shown itself to be on the side of illegal migrants who have broken into our county.
“But this is not a free pass for asylum hotels. Councils can and should still act to close hotels. If they don’t, residents will rightly ask, on whose side are they?”
Today’s decision is likely to heighten tensions after the Home Office argued the human rights of asylum seekers trump those of Epping Council and, by extension, the residents they are elected to serve.
Edward Brown KC, for the Home Office, yesterday told the Court of Appeal that accommodating asylum seekers is in the “national interest”.
He also said the housing of migrants at the hotel involved an issue of “critical national infrastructure”.
Epping Council brought the case to court claiming Somani Hotels breached planning rules as the site is not being used for its intended purpose as a hotel.
Philip Coppel KC, for the council, said: “There has been what can be described as an increase in community tension, the catalyst of which has been the use of The Bell Hotel to place asylum seekers.
“It is a problem that is causing great local anxiety.”
But barristers for the company said the “draconian” move would cause “hardship” for those inside the hotel.
They also argued “political views” were not grounds for an injunction and that contracts to house asylum seekers were a “financial lifeline”.
Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force around £100,000.
A total of 28 people have been arrested in relation to disorder at the hotel, and 16 of them have been charged.
Last night, dozens of protesters gathered outside the hotel ahead of today’s decision.
AlamyThe order to boot migrants out of The Bell Hotel in Epping was today plunged into chaos after the Court of Appeal overturned it[/caption]
GettyTory leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Sir Keir “puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities”[/caption]
Starmer may have won battle but is yet to win war – ANALYSIS
By Ryan Sabey
By Ryan Sabey
Sir Keir Starmer will surely take a sip on a very cold drink on his summer holiday today after winning the Court of Appeal hearing.
The Prime Minister’s delight though will be extremely short-lived as he works through the practical ramifications of actually keeping open an asylum hotel.
Sir Keir and his Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have got through this legal battle but the knock-on effects are now huge.
The crux of the problems for the government are that they wanted to keep the Bell Hotel in Epping OPEN when so much noise has been created about CLOSING them.
The legal action is in sheer contrast to the long-term plan to actually close these hotels, which are costing around £5 million per day.
Ms Cooper as part of the government appeal even used the European Convention of Human Rights to say she has an obligation not to kick migrants on the streets.
It’s all so messy when we’ve had a string of Labour MPs followed by party grandees including Lord Blunkett and Jack Straw questioning why we abide by Strasbourg rules.
The ruling, by three Court of Appeal judges, will only raise tensions with local communities who want to see hotels that are blighting communities closed.
Despite the pledge to close them, the public have yet to see alternative accommodation that will be provided to house thousands of migrants.
One person who will immediately take advantage of the ruling is Reform UK Nigel Farage.
Look at the difference between his positioning and that of the PM.
On Tuesday this week, Mr Farage spelled out his plans to detain and deport thousands of migrants sending them on their way of deportation flight after deportation flight.
He will simply point at the PM and tell his growing legion of supporters that the PM wants the opposite of them.
The government wants to close these hotels step by step in a measured, practical way.
For the public, time and patience with the PM to deal with illegal immigration and the Channel small boats problem is running. And running out quick.
Perhaps the PM will want to pour another drink before he heads back to Britain.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
