Commenting on the High Court ruling blocking asylum seekers from being housed in a hotel in Epping and the prospect of Councils across England now weighing up their own legal challenges, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said:
“This is where the legacy of 14 years of Conservative government has led us. They allowed a massive backlog of asylum claims which has resulted in local hotels being used for accommodation.
“The Green Party embraces the right to claim asylum, in any country, as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And we need a fast and fair process to assess asylum applications.
“It is inhumane, as well as costly to UK tax payers, to have to wait years for a decision.
“The UK Government quite rightly created safe and legal routes for people fleeing Ukraine. They need to offer the same to others seeking safety from similarly dangerous situations.
“We also want to see those seeking asylum and protection to be allowed to work while their application is being decided. That’s the way to get them out of hotels and able to look after themselves and contributing to local communities.”