Hotel refugees 'gone by end of June', says MP

The hotel's owners said in February 2023 it had to take on the contract to secure its future

The Home Office is to move all asylum seekers out of a  four-star hotel "before the end of June", according to an MP .

said it was taking a government contract to house the refugees in January 2023, saying it was "necessary" to secure its survival.

Conservative South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous said: "The current residents will be moving to other parts of the asylum estate."

The Home Office did not comment about Old Palace Lodge, but did say it was "making significant progress with moving asylum seekers out of hotels".

About 300 people attended a public meeting when the plans became known

Writing on his website, Mr Selous said the Home Office had terminated its contract with the hotel.

Mr Selous said: "The takeover of hotels by the Home Office has never been the right way to house asylum seekers.

"Hotels are important community assets for local businesses and for local people to celebrate significant life events, and The Old Palace Lodge was a very important venue for the town."

300 people attended a public meeting once the hotel's arrangement became known.

Its owners said it was needed to ensure its survival amid rising energy costs following the Covid pandemic.

As a result, weddings and other events due to be held at the hotel had to be cancelled.

The contract provided about150 beds of temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are making significant progress with moving asylum seekers out of hotels, which cost UK taxpayers £8.2m a day.

“We have already exited 100 hotels and we will exit more in the coming months.”