UK Government Plans Move Migrants From Hotels to Military Barracks

The UK Government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and newly appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, is set to move asylum seekers from hotels into disused military barracks as part of efforts to tighten immigration controls amid a surge in Channel crossings. This policy shift responds to widespread protests against migrant hotels and aims to close dozens of such facilities by 2029, replacing them with Ministry of Defence sites to house migrants. Concurrently, the Government is nearing a 'one in, one out' returns deal with Germany, similar to an existing agreement with France, to deport small boat arrivals while accepting vetted asylum seekers from those countries. The move follows a significant Home Office reshuffle, signaling Sir Keir's intent to strengthen border security and address public concerns over illegal migration. Despite internal party dissent and criticism from opposition parties calling for even harsher measures, the Government maintains that reducing net migration is a top priority. The scale of the challenge was highlighted by an estimated 1,000 migrants arriving by small boat in a single day, underscoring the urgency behind these policy changes.