Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels halves and small boat crossings slashed

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Key points

• 235, 000 work visas were granted in the year to June 2026, down 18 per cent on the past year.
• Earlier this month, the Home Office closed Statford-upon-Avon's grade II-listed Grosvenor Hotel and the Grand Metropole Hotel on Blackpool Promenade, one of the town's two oldest hotels.
• There are now fewer than 160 hotels in employ by the Home Office – down from a peak of almost 400 under the Conservatives.
• Small boat crossings to the UK have additionally fallen by 23 per cent year-on-year, mirroring similar trends throughout Europe.
• After restrictions introduced by the Conservative and Labour governments, the number of individuals coming to the UK for work, study and to join family is additionally falling.

What happened

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Meanwhile, the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has halved previously year as the Home Office pushes to close down the controversial accommodation, new figures have made public.

Small boat crossings to the UK have additionally fallen by 23 per cent year-on-year, mirroring similar trends throughout Europe.

Background

Administration figures issued on Thursday show that there were 16, 000 asylum seekers living in Home Office hotels in June this year, down 50 per cent on a year earlier.

Ministers continue to shut down hotels housing asylum seekers as part of a move to larger sites, such as former military barracks. Asylum seekers are additionally being moved into homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs).

Earlier this month, the Home Office closed Statford-upon-Avon's grade II-listed Grosvenor Hotel and the Grand Metropole Hotel on Blackpool Promenade, one of the town's two oldest hotels.

Official response

There are now fewer than 160 hotels in employ by the Home Office – down from a peak of almost 400 under the Conservatives.

In total, there were 93, 000 individuals in receipt of asylum backing in June, meaning they are either living in administration accommodation such as hotels or shared houses or receiving financial assist. This is 12 per cent lower than last year.

After restrictions introduced by the Conservative and Labour governments, the number of individuals coming to the UK for work, study and to join family is additionally falling.

235, 000 work visas were granted in the year to June 2026, down 18 per cent on the past year. Study visas are down 11 per cent year-on-year to 383, 000, and family visas are down 19 per cent to 58, 000. This is a breaking story. More to follow.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around number of asylum seekers housed in hotels halves and small boat crossings point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.