Following a situation where a large group of asylum seekers ended up sleeping on the streets of Westminster for two nights, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has defended a policy requiring refugees to share hotel rooms in London. The Home Office had asked the group to sleep “four people per room” in a Pimlico hotel, but they refused.
During a press conference, Rishi Sunak emphasized the government’s aim to make more efficient use of hotel spaces by asking people to share rooms when appropriate. He highlighted the discovery of an additional 11,500 places, resulting in £250 million annual savings for taxpayers. Sunak stated that if migrants are coming to the country illegally and seeking sanctuary from death, torture, or persecution, they should be willing to share a taxpayer-funded hotel room in central London.
Protests ensued outside the hotel, with around 20 individuals camping on the street in objection to the cramped conditions inside. Council leader Adam Hug expressed concerns in a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, citing safeguarding and health risks associated with asking traumatized individuals to share inappropriately-sized rooms with strangers.
Rough sleeping teams provided support to the refugees, as the council claimed that the Home Office had not presented any resolution to the matter. The Home Office defended its accommodation offer, stating that it meets all legal and contractual requirements and provides decent standards of living for asylum seekers.
The policy of requiring refugees to share hotel rooms in London has sparked a debate regarding the treatment and welfare of asylum seekers. Opinions on the fairness and appropriateness of the policy vary, and it continues to be a topic of discussion in the public sphere.
