Starmer to move asylum hotel migrants to military barracks

The UK Labour government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, plans to shift asylum seekers from hotels to former military bases, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set to announce the policy soon.

The move aims to close dozens of asylum hotels, which have sparked protests over illegal migration, well before Labour’s 2029 target.

Currently, two ex-military sites, MDP Wethersfield in Essex and Napier Barracks in Folkestone, house asylum seekers, a policy started by the previous Conservative government despite opposition from pro-migrant groups who likened the sites to prisons. Mahmood, newly appointed to the Home Office, faces a surge in Channel crossings, with about 1,000 migrants arriving on her first day. “Her position is going to be ‘nothing is off the table’,” a source close to Mahmood said, highlighting her focus on tackling illegal migration.

The government is also nearing a “one in, one out” deal with Germany to return Channel migrants, mirroring an existing French agreement. Starmer’s recent Home Office reshuffle, including appointing MP Mike Tapp as a minister, underscores his push for tougher border security measures amid public and political pressure.