BADENOCH URGES TORY COUNCILS TO CHALLENGE ASYLUM HOTELS IN COURT – Conservative party leader praises Epping hotel ruling
Kemi Badenoch is urging more Conservative councils to launch legal challenges against hotels being used to house asylum seekers.
Badenoch praised Epping Council, which this week secured a temporary High Court injunction blocking the use of the Bell Hotel in Essex on planning grounds. She told Tory councils she would “back you to take similar action to protect your community,” while noting that each case would depend on local circumstances.
Labour, Conservative and Reform councils — including Tamworth, Wirral, Broxbourne, East Lindsey, Staffordshire and West Northamptonshire — are weighing legal action, along with Tory-led Dudley and Reigate and Banstead.
But not all councils are following suit. Labour-run Newcastle, Brighton, and Hove say they will not pursue court challenges. Labour, meanwhile, dismissed Badenoch’s call as, quote, “desperate and hypocritical nonsense.”
