Labour won the legal battle over asylum hotels, but the right is running the story

"For the Home Office, the court of appeal's decision was a practical win. If the ruling had gone the other way, the government would have been forced to rehouse 138 asylum seekers in a matter of days, opening the floodgates to similar legal challenges from other councils. Since there is scant alternative accommodation available, this ruling buys the government time."

"Government insiders say that by the end of the year they expect at least five more hotels housing asylum seekers to close, with more to follow in the new year. If the closures proceed, the ruling means they still have time to deliver their promise of shutting all the hotels down in a controlled and orderly way by 2029. But political tensions have, of course, been reignited."

Protesters gathered outside the Bell hotel waving union and St George's flags. The court of appeal decision prevented an immediate requirement to rehouse 138 asylum seekers and therefore avoided rapid cascades of similar legal challenges. Limited alternative accommodation means the ruling provides the government with breathing space. Insiders expect at least five more hotels housing asylum seekers to close by year end, with more next year. The ruling preserves a timeline to close all hotels by 2029 if closures proceed. Political tensions have escalated, with Nigel Farage and Reform UK attacking the decision and Kemi Badenoch urging continued legal challenges.

Read at www.theguardian.com