Demonstrators filled UK streets on Saturday, opposing the use of hotels for asylum-seekers.
Crowds gathered in Liverpool, while more protests under the “Abolish Asylum System” slogan spread to Bristol, Newcastle, and London.
Stand Up To Racism organised a counter-protest in Liverpool, where police removed protesters and contained heated clashes.
Court Ruling Fuels Opposition to Accommodation
The government faced new challenges after a recent court decision blocked asylum housing in an Epping hotel.
Right-wing politicians seized on the ruling, urging more communities to pursue legal action against hotels housing asylum-seekers.
Opponents intensified their campaign, linking the legal setback to wider resistance against migrant accommodations nationwide.
Rising Migration Deepens Housing Strains
The government must legally house asylum-seekers, a duty that became urgent after arrivals surged sharply in 2020.
Crossings over the English Channel remain central to the immigration debate, with smuggling boats carrying thousands into Britain.
Over 27,000 unauthorized migrants have arrived this year, nearly 50% higher than last year and exceeding 2022’s pace.
Home Office figures reported 32,000 asylum-seekers living in hotels by June, an 8% increase from the previous year.
Applications reached 111,084 in the year to June 2025, the highest since records began in 2001.
In May, the National Audit Office confirmed hotel residents made up 35% of all asylum accommodations.
