August 04, 2023
Tories under fire over plan to cram another 900 asylum seekers in shared bedrooms in hotels
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Tory Ministers have been accused of “racist” and “inhumane” plans to cram another 900 asylum seekers into Scots hotels by forcing them to share bedrooms. The doubling up plan for people fleeing persecution comes despite the UK Government admitting hotels are not “appropriate”. Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: "The complacent, cruel and inhumane hotels policy has been a disaster. “It is a symptom of a brutal, racist and broken system that actively punishes some of the world's most vulnerable people.” Read More Related Articles Outgoing police chief says "sooner" SNP investigation is finished the "better" Read More Related Articles Robin Harper says he will vote Labour after quitting Scottish Greens over independence dispute It has been reported that more than 50,000 asylum seekers are being housed across the UK in Home Office run hotels. The policy also applies in Scotland where private firm Mears is responsible for finding temporary accommodation. Hotels are judged to be unsuitable but are being used due to the lack of affordable housing in local areas. A leaked letter from Home Office official Tim Rymer to SNP Minister Emma Roddick stated: “The Home Secretary and immigration Minister have been clear that the use of hotels is inappropriate and that we must reduce our reliance on them as a form of temporary accommodation.” He continued: “The Home Office is constantly challenging our accommodation suppliers to make best use of available asylum accommodation to reduce the need for more hotels and deliver the best value for money for the taxpayer. But he added: “In order to deliver this we are working closely with our accommodation providers to optimise the existing space within the existing hotel estate.” The letter revealed plans to increase the number of asylum seekers in hotels through the room share plan. The Brentwood hotel in Aberdeen has a current capacity of 114, but a planned rise of 107 through sharing would take the total to 211. Emma Roddick Under the plans, capacity at The Holiday Inn in Cartsburn in Inverclyde would jump from 69 to 134. The Station Hotel in Perth is earmarked for a rise from 81 to 154. The Patio Hotel in Aberdeen has a current capacity of 165, but would rise to 346 under the doubling up proposal. The new policy would squeeze 906 new people in fourteen hotels and the total revised maximum capacity would be 1863. Rymer, Deputy Director of Adult and Family Asylum Accommodation, added: “We recognise this may cause some concern. I would like to assure you that we will be doing this in line with all relevant statutory and legal requirements.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been criticised for his hardline policies on immigration and asylum. Graham O’Neill at the Scottish Refugee Council said: “We are deeply concerned by plans to require people seeking asylum to share bedrooms. People coming to the UK seeking protection are often fleeing violence and oppression including abuse and gross invasions of privacy. “As a result, being forced to live in such close proximity to strangers will lead to re-traumatisation of acutely vulnerable Women and men. It is an appalling, inhumane and irresponsible way to treat people seeking safety. “We would urge the UK government to abandon this cruel plan. We also urge the First Minister to personally intervene now and instruct his government to identify and pursue all legal and policy options to stop this inhumane forced bedroom sharing happening in Scotland.” Labour MSP Paul O'Kane said: "The Tories' approach to immigration is somehow both unspeakably cruel and completely ineffective. "Moves like these put individuals in danger and are not serious solutions to the problems we face with housing and ensuring the safety of asylum seekers in the UK. "Unlike the Tories, a Labour government would put compassion and security at the heart of our immigration system." Scottish politics Anas Sarwar opposed to two-child cap Scottish Government cuts Twitter adverts Humza Yousaf urged to nationalise buses Angus MacNeil suspended from SNP Chapman added: "Only last week the High Court ruled that the Home Office was illegally housing unaccompanied children in hotels. For them to seek to expand that same disgraceful approach is disgraceful. "The Home Office is not fit for purpose and nor is the Home Secretary. It is only with the powers of a normal independent country that we can develop a humane system that recognises human dignity and prioritises solidarity and Human Rights." A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Home Office’s proposals to require unrelated people seeking asylum to share hotel rooms adds risk and stress for people at an already turbulent time. “We firmly believe that the focus should instead be on improving the speed and quality of asylum decisions to reduce the time that people have to spend in hotel accommodation. “The Scottish Government has received the letter from the Home Office and will respond in due course.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.’ “We are constantly working with our suppliers to make best use of available asylum accommodation to reduce the need for more hotels and deliver best value for money for the taxpayer.” To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record Facebook Twitter Comment More On Immigration SNP UK Government
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Israel at War

Israel has entered its fourth week of war against Hamas after the group infiltrated the country on October 7.

Israel conducted its most intense ground operation in Gaza overnight, attacking about 150 underground targets, according to IDF.

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
#AngelinaJolie is ready to put Hollywood behind her. #shorts
December 09, 2023
yPJUZwRN8SY
Olivia Rodrigo Got Caught "Stalking" Her Ex On Instagram | E! News
December 08, 2023
GCPLBWx-ZPE
Paris Hilton's Ex-Fiancé Chris Zylka Says He Signed an NDA After They Split | E! News
December 08, 2023
KzPeHlXN75A
Taraji P. Henson & Jeffrey Wright | Actors on Actors
December 09, 2023
ZaHWLLvKjt0
#emmastone and #bradleycooper talk about Wikipedia and death. #actorsonactors
December 08, 2023
HGvZf3RQIGw
#emmastone to #bradleycooper: "Coopsie Poopsies. I'm so happy to see you." #actorsonactors
December 08, 2023
Meip6Gpmu-8
MIT Free Speech Advocate Says Calling for Genocide of Jews Not Same as KKK Threats | TMZ
December 09, 2023
1hpEfaX-iyU
Kurupt Happy with Snoop Dogg's Death Row Takeover, Royalty Payments | TMZ
December 09, 2023
uPpnegkd_VU
Dennis Quaid Rocks Out Onstage With The Doors' Robby Krieger | TMZ
December 09, 2023
vIgEGb8ih40
Gisele Bündchen shows off her amazing abs in white-hot cutout gown for holiday jewelry campaign
December 09, 2023
dR0PHI8FUVg
Jessel Taank: Pavit wanted fried chicken tonight #shorts
December 09, 2023
1-AmetzyHdA
Ryan O’Neal, ‘Love Story’ star and Farrah Fawcett’s ex, dead at 82
December 08, 2023
9TBULnPIvZ8
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
09
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Atalanta - AC Milan
09
Dec
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Championship
Rotherham - Swansea City
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Championship
Middlesbrough - Ipswich Town
09
Dec
SPAIN: La Liga
Alaves - Las Palmas
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Championship
Watford - Southampton
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Championship
Sunderland - West Bromwich Albion
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Burnley
09
Dec
ENGLAND: Championship
Blackburn - Leeds
09
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - Lazio
08
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Napoli
07
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur - West Ham United
06
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Manchester United - Chelsea
06
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Manchester City
06
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Sheffield United - Liverpool
06
Dec
GERMANY: National cup
Stuttgart - Borussia Dortmund
05
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Luton - Arsenal
03
Dec
SPAIN: La Liga
Barcelona - Atletico Madrid
03
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Napoli - Inter Milan
03
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Manchester City - Tottenham Hotspur
03
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Fulham
03
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Sassuolo - Roma
03
Dec
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen - Borussia Dortmund
03
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Brighton
02
Dec
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Granada CF
02
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Newcastle United - Manchester United
02
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Frosinone
02
Dec
ENGLAND: Premier League
Arsenal - Wolves
01
Dec
ITALY: Serie A
Monza - Juventus
29
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group C
Real Madrid - Napoli
29
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group A
Bayern Munich - FC Kobenhavn
29
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group D
Benfica - Inter Milan
29
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group B
Arsenal - Lens
29
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group A
Galatasaray - Manchester United
28
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group G
Manchester City - RB Leipzig
28
Nov
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Group stage, Group F
PSG - Newcastle United
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.