Protesters across the UK have taken to the streets to demand that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government stops housing asylum seekers at hotels, leading to scuffles and police intervention in some cities. The rallies come days after a court granted a temporary injunction blocking a hotel in Epping, Essex, from accommodating an asylum seeker accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The nationwide protests were met with counter-demonstrators, sparking clashes between the two groups. Police intervened to separate the protesters and prevent further violence. The protests took place in cities such as Bristol, Liverpool, London, Mold, Perth, and County Antrim.
According to the Home Office, over 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers have crossed the English Channel since Starmer became prime minister last year. The UK government has been criticized for its immigration policies, with some politicians calling for tougher measures. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage outlined a plan to pursue “mass deportations” of irregular migrants, which includes detaining people on disused military bases and returning them to their countries of origin.
The UK’s asylum seeker population is significantly lower than that of other countries that hosted the most refugees in 2024. Despite this, the government has been urged to provide more support to asylum seekers, who are often reliant on the government or family networks for housing and support. The issue remains a contentious topic, with protesters demanding change and critics calling for more humane policies.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/24/scuffles-arrests-as-protesters-across-uk-rally-against-asylum-hotels