Working to close the asylum hotels

Published: 11 February 2026

Asylum hotels benefit nobody.

They’re not positive for those that live in them, nor are they beneficial to the communities that live around them. 

That’s why, even as the numbers of those staying in hotels continue to drop, I’ll continue to press the government for their closure. 

I’m calling again for an end to non-family accommodation in Bournemouth. 

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the number of asylum seekers hotels fell from 574 in September 2025, to 477 in December. That itself is a fall from 615 last June. 

That means that in the last ten months, 138 asylum seekers have ceased their stay in hotels in the area. 

Additionally, with the recent closure of 11 family unit hotels nationwide, the total number of hotels is down to 185 from the inherited peak of around 400. 

The Government is making fast progress on its objective to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation. 

I believe Bournemouth may soon have positive news on that front. 

In 2025, asylum applications were down by 4% and deportations were up by 9%. In the year to date, small boat arrivals are down 34% compared to the same period last year.

That is successful deterrence due to action taken by this Government.