UK Taxpayer Foots £3,172/Minute Hotel Bill for Migrant Housing

On Thursday, British newspapers spotlighted two contrasting narratives in the ongoing migration debate. The first is the illusion that the government is finally addressing the issue by restricting residency to those fluent in English. The second is the stark reality that, despite the rhetoric, the situation has actually deteriorated.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, taxpayers are now spending £4.6 million (€5.4 million) daily to accommodate migrants in hotels and other asylum facilities — a cost that breaks down to £3,172 (€3,700) per minute. This figure is triple the initial estimates and comes despite Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s previous pledge to “end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds.”

Discontent over the government's handling of Channel crossings was evident in last week’s local elections, where Reform overturned nearly three decades of Conservative control in Kent — the coastal county where many boats arrive. Party leader Nigel Farage described the win as a historic shift, calling it “beyond my wildest dreams.”

Labour insiders acknowledged that the ongoing practice of housing illegal migrants in hotels has fueled support for Reform. Yet, many doubt that the ruling parties will take meaningful action.

The Home Office claimed on Wednesday to have “returned over 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK,” a statement that the BBC criticized as “misleading,” noting that only 6,339 of these were enforced returns.

Reform now aims to curb the housing of illegal migrants in hotels within the areas they govern, hoping to demonstrate a tangible departure from Labour and Conservative policies. If successful, the party could gain significant momentum heading into the next general election.