Anti-Asylum Seeker Protests Spread Across UK Amid Policy Reforms

Anti-migrant protests have intensified across Britain, with demonstrations occurring outside hotels housing asylum seekers in cities such as Norwich, Birmingham, London, Epping, and Bristol. These protests have been fueled by rising public safety concerns, including incidents of crime involving migrants, and by the record number of asylum applications reaching over 111,000 in the past year. The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is under increasing pressure to fulfill its pledge to phase out the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, which currently houses over 32,000 asylum seekers and costs billions annually. Protesters, some organized by far-right groups and displaying British flags, have faced police intervention, with multiple arrests made during clashes with counter-protesters. In response, the government announced plans for a fast-track asylum appeals process aimed at speeding up the removal of individuals without the right to remain in the UK, with independent adjudicators proposed to handle appeals instead of judges. The protests reflect widespread public concern over immigration policy and asylum system delays, with political figures like Nigel Farage advocating for even stricter measures including mass deportations and withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights.