A Conservative-led council in London is considering taking legal action against the Labour government after its appeal for additional funding to support asylum seekers was rejected.
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Hillingdon, home to the UK’s highest concentration of asylum seekers — 94 per 10,000 residents — has been disproportionately impacted due to its proximity to Heathrow Airport, where several hotels are being used as temporary accommodation. According to the latest figures, 3,010 individuals are currently being supported by the Home Office in the borough.
However, once an asylum claim is processed and approved, those staying in government-funded hotels are evicted, leaving the local authority responsible for their housing and welfare. Hillingdon Council reports that it is currently funding temporary accommodation for over 100 asylum-seeking families, with others sleeping rough in tents.
Council leader Ian Edwards said the council faces a £5.3 million budget gap in 2024/25 as a direct result of these pressures. Despite this, the Home Office this week turned down its request for extra financial support, arguing that the existing grant funding was adequate. Speaking to The Independent, Mr Edwards said: “We are now in discussions with our lawyers; my expectation is that we will have to challenge that decision.
“This is not about attacking asylum seekers — they need support. But the notion that the government can intensify relocation in our borough and expect our residents to foot the bill is simply staggering.”
Since forming a government, Labour has committed to clearing the backlog of asylum applications, aiming to reduce hotel dependency and associated costs. Recent Home Office data indicates a 12 per cent reduction in pending asylum decisions over a three-month period, down to 109,536 cases as of March.
However, this acceleration has resulted in increased pressure on local councils. Asylum seekers granted refugee status are no longer entitled to government-funded hotel stays, pushing the responsibility onto local authorities.
In Hillingdon, the strain is particularly acute, with a 3,000-household waiting list for social housing. The council is actively purchasing additional properties to meet temporary housing needs. Services such as education and healthcare are also under increasing strain. Following the government’s refusal to reimburse last year’s shortfall, council leaders are now contemplating cuts to services to balance this year’s budget.
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“It is the expectation from the government that the council has staff sitting around waiting to deal with this increase in work,” said Mr Edwards. “We simply are not set up to deal with this immense pressure — let alone the financial burden, which is falling squarely on our residents.
“Once individuals are evicted and turn to us for help, the costs shift to the council immediately. This is a national issue and should be funded at a national level.” The London Councils group, representing the capital’s local authorities, has echoed Hillingdon’s concerns, estimating a collective shortfall of at least £500 million this year.
During a recent debate in the House of Lords, Labour peer Sharon Taylor emphasised the government’s efforts to streamline asylum processing and improve coordination with local authorities. “We are working hard to make sure that asylum seekers get a decision quickly and that we help local authorities plan more effectively as we reduce the number of asylum seekers waiting for the decision,” she said.
The challenges facing Hillingdon have been compounded by recent arrivals from the Chagos Islands. Following a UK-Mauritius agreement, 129 British nationals have arrived in the borough in the past week, with 93 households now receiving council support.
Mr Edwards expressed concern over the government’s preparedness: “The concern for the local authority is that the government, having made that deal, provide the right support to local authorities who will now have to manage the consequences of that decision.”
A spokesperson for the Home Office said the government is working to reduce its reliance on hotel accommodation and had announced funding to support councils.
“This government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money,” the spokesperson said. “We are immediately speeding up decisions and increasing returns so we can end the use of hotels and save the taxpayer £4 billion by 2026.
“We remain committed to working closely with local authorities to ensure a fair and equitable spread of accommodation and to provide the financial support required.”
