In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express, a father and daughter who have successfully initiated legal action to temporarily halt the housing of asylum seekers at a hotel in Essex have accused the government of a catastrophic failure to control the migrant crisis. Council leader Chris Whitbread and his daughter, fellow councillor Holly Whitbread, have become the public face of local opposition in Epping, a usually quiet market town now at the epicenter of a national debate.
Their legal bid to close The Bell Hotel to new asylum seekers came after a series of heated protests, ignited by the arrest of an asylum seeker for an alleged sexual assault—a charge he denies. A High Court judge granted an interim order to stop the hotel from accepting any more people, giving Epping Forest District Council time to build its case for a full injunction. The move by the Whitbreads, both of whom are Tory councillors, appears to be a calculated political maneuver aimed at capitalizing on public frustration.
In their interview, both Chris and Holly did not shy away from strong criticism of the current Labour government, singling out Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The council leader, Chris Whitbread, 60, delivered a scathing assessment, claiming the government is "failing at every level" and should be given "nought out of 10" for its first year in office. He warned that the kind of public unrest seen in Epping could spread across the country if the government doesn't "get a grip."
His daughter, Holly, 32, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the unanimous council motion she put forward to demand the hotel’s closure. She vowed that she and her father would "not going to stop fighting" for their community. The pair, who have a "long history" in Epping, are framing their actions as a defense of their hometown, which Holly says has been "shaken" by the alleged assault and subsequent protests. They claim to support peaceful local protests but condemn outsiders who arrive for "political purposes," a statement that has not gone unnoticed by the public.
The political spotlight on the Whitbreads has generated a mixed reaction. While some publicly praise their actions as a bold stand against a failing system, others are more cynical. One commenter noted, "They should have taken such action a long time ago... they are only climbing on the bandwagon now for their own political gain." Another stated, "Just showing the others how to do it is a thumbs up to the pair of them," expressing a broader frustration with national politicians and suggesting the Whitbreads are providing a model for effective action. However, a more moderate voice urged for all political parties to "come together and realise it's not sustainable," criticizing the "blame game" that has defined the crisis.
The Home Office, in its defense, stated it is taking "immediate action to fix the asylum system," citing the closure of hundreds of hotels and the reduction of the daily cost from ÂŁ9 million to a lower figure. However, the father-daughter duo's public campaign and legal challenge, fueled by local outrage and national media attention, underscore the deep-seated political divisions and public discontent that continue to define the UK's migrant crisis.