Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why do Labour not get it?

764 replies

Dacatspjs · 28/10/2025 12:30

It's being reported today that Labour want to stop using hotels and move migrants into barracks. Fine. But when quizzed on it Luke Pollard has suggested this will be more expensive, but the public want the hotels to close at all costs so it will be worth it.

This to me just seems like another step forward for Reform. The public who care about this, care about how much the government is spending on migrant housing. A new policy that costs more isn't going to go anyway towards solving this problem.

I don't know what the solution is, but spending more money getting mothballed barracks up to spec seems ludicrous.

"Asked about whether it would cost more to house migrants at military bases than in hotels, Mr Pollard insisted that 'the public want to see those hotels close'.

But he added: 'We're looking at what's possible and, in some cases, those bases may be a different cost to hotels, but I think we need to reflect the public mood on this asylum hotels need to close.'"

OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:53

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:51

Less would come anyway, and the ones that did could be deported immediately.
If I had the answers to fixing our immigration system then I would be a very rich lady! My point is that:

  • Our immigration and asylum systems need reviewing and modernising
  • They should be based on humanity and care
  • Asylum seeker are not criminals and should not be treated as such
Show quote history

You could only deport people who arrive by boat if you ignore the 1951 convention and laws around that, is that what you mean?

marshmallowmix · 28/10/2025 16:52

Winteriscoming80 · 28/10/2025 15:18

We should do what other countries do,put them in tents ,they won’t come over then

Yep agree ! They get tents in France we should follow their lead.

Macron told Starmer a few months ago stop with the benefits/hotels etc and you’ll stop the pull of them wanting to come to the U.K.

They leave safe counties like France as we are soft touch and hand out freebies to all and sundry.

Labour are sunk as people have had it, anyone I talk to has had a gutful….it is sickening and scary allowing unchecked males in on this scale.

elviswhorley · 28/10/2025 16:52

LadyKenya · 28/10/2025 12:36

Where did you get the idea that those hotels are 'cushy'?

Show quote history

Weren't they hotels that were in use right up until the owners were approached with contracts to house migrants?

DuncinToffee · 28/10/2025 16:52

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 16:49

I don't see how this would work. The numbers would rocket, and what's to stop those who were refused entry coming anyway by small boat?

Show quote history

Numbers would rocket. Is there any evidence of that?

And I thought people don't mind genuine asylum seekers.

You are right it won't stop the boat crossings completely but reducing them will save lives.

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:51

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 16:49

I don't see how this would work. The numbers would rocket, and what's to stop those who were refused entry coming anyway by small boat?

Show quote history

Less would come anyway, and the ones that did could be deported immediately.
If I had the answers to fixing our immigration system then I would be a very rich lady! My point is that:

  • Our immigration and asylum systems need reviewing and modernising
  • They should be based on humanity and care
  • Asylum seeker are not criminals and should not be treated as such
user5972308467 · 28/10/2025 16:51

aslkdfjh · 28/10/2025 12:35

The hotels are not ‘cushy’ but currently the public appears to falling for the bullshit that asylum seekers are living it up in 4* hotels with all the trappings.

Edited

A nice hotel in our town was being used for migrants. It was several hundred a single room/night before the pandemic as friends stayed there for a wedding. Really old listed building, right in the town centre. It was probably due a re-vamp, but I’ve stayed in much worse!

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:49

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:47

Bit of a problem then. It’s not viable. There’s no point in keeping this unsafe and dangerous system because there’s one people prefer that can’t work.

Show quote history

Not really, since I'm not the one in charge of implementing the system!
You have no idea whether or not it is viable, neither do I, but in my opinion it would be a preferable system to the Oz one.

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 16:49

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:37

I can think of lots of ways to make our asylum system safer and more humane without taking on an Oz style system. Being able to have your claim processed from outside the UK would be a start.

Show quote history

I don't see how this would work. The numbers would rocket, and what's to stop those who were refused entry coming anyway by small boat?

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:47

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:45

No idea.

Show quote history

Bit of a problem then. It’s not viable. There’s no point in keeping this unsafe and dangerous system because there’s one people prefer that can’t work.

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:46

billysboy · 28/10/2025 16:37

Charity begins at home !
until a way is found of stopping these boats or returning them to France to have Asylum claims heard there these men will keep coming
An Australian type system is needed and no benefits available immediately
I wonder if anyone would hazard a guess how many illegals are here already ?
This is not having a good effect on our available housing stock

No idea how many illegal immigrants are here. The ones I have met were living in tents as they weren't eligible to access homeless shelters.

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:45

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:40

How many would apply, could you meet the demand?

Show quote history

No idea.

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:40

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:37

I can think of lots of ways to make our asylum system safer and more humane without taking on an Oz style system. Being able to have your claim processed from outside the UK would be a start.

Show quote history

How many would apply, could you meet the demand?

billysboy · 28/10/2025 16:37

Charity begins at home !
until a way is found of stopping these boats or returning them to France to have Asylum claims heard there these men will keep coming
An Australian type system is needed and no benefits available immediately
I wonder if anyone would hazard a guess how many illegals are here already ?
This is not having a good effect on our available housing stock

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:37

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:33

Why do you prefer trafficking including all the horrendous crimes that happen on the way, boats overloaded and some dying in the Channel due to that?

The crimes that could have been prevented when here too, but why choose this chaotic and unsafe system that makes some criminals vast profits?

Edited
Show quote history

I can think of lots of ways to make our asylum system safer and more humane without taking on an Oz style system. Being able to have your claim processed from outside the UK would be a start.

Bumblebee72 · 28/10/2025 16:36

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:30

The Oz system is pretty inhumane, not sure I'd be a fan of importing it to the UK.

Show quote history

What's humane about requiring people to risk their life on a massively overcrowded inflatable dingy, so that they can avoid claiming asylum in France?

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:33

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:30

The Oz system is pretty inhumane, not sure I'd be a fan of importing it to the UK.

Show quote history

Why do you prefer trafficking including all the horrendous crimes that happen on the way, boats overloaded and some dying in the Channel due to that?

The crimes that could have been prevented when here too, but why choose this chaotic and unsafe system that makes some criminals vast profits?

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 16:30

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:24

I’d use the Aus system. Then you can vet anyone who enters. This looks chaotic and incredibly unsafe to me. Criminals bringing people over who you can’t really check.

Show quote history

The Oz system is pretty inhumane, not sure I'd be a fan of importing it to the UK.

Bumblebee72 · 28/10/2025 16:28

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 16:24

Yes, all those who have sadly no space in their homes.

Show quote history

Quite. The typical labour voter is very good at spending other peoples money. Maybe people who have a council house will an extra bedroom could use it to house an asylum seeker.

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:24

CorneliaCupp · 28/10/2025 15:29

I am no expert on this, and I agree that the system is not foolproof. My point was that I don't agree with locking people up when we can't prove they have committed a crime.
How would you make the system less gappy? Genuinely interested.

Show quote history

I’d use the Aus system. Then you can vet anyone who enters. This looks chaotic and incredibly unsafe to me. Criminals bringing people over who you can’t really check.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2025 16:24

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:20

Good idea. There’d be some takers on here.

Show quote history

Yes, all those who have sadly no space in their homes.

Bumblebee72 · 28/10/2025 16:22

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:20

Good idea. There’d be some takers on here.

Show quote history

There won't be any. None of the people who say they would willing pay more tax, put their money where their mouth is when it is pointed out they can do so voluntarily now.

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 16:20

24karatPalamino · 28/10/2025 15:33

It could be an optional extra tax. We could call it the ‘morally superior person tax’. I won’t be signing up for it, but you could.

Good idea. There’d be some takers on here.

NoSpanielSympathy · 28/10/2025 16:16

AllTheseYears · 28/10/2025 15:49

The things that make them 4 star are the pools, spas etc and they don’t have use of these. So it’s just a bed in a basic room.

Show quote history

They absolutely do have use of the pools.

ForestBath · 28/10/2025 16:07

AllTheseYears · 28/10/2025 15:49

The things that make them 4 star are the pools, spas etc and they don’t have use of these. So it’s just a bed in a basic room.

Show quote history

I beg to differ. Have you seen inside any of the b&b used to house entire families whilst they wait eternally on static housing lists? They are beyond basic. A far cry from the novotels and holiday inns used for asylum seekers.