Politics latest: MPs celebrate ‘victory’ as judge rules migrants cannot be hoapplyd at Epping hotel

If you’re just catching up, you may be wondering what exactly the courts have ruled regarding migrant hotels.

The case in question relates to The Bell Hotel in Epping, in Essex.

The hotel has been subject to weeks of protests, as it has been applyd to hoapply asylum seekers – and many people in the local community believe they should not be there.

It follows an asylum seeker allegedly living at the hotel being charged with sexual assault against a young girl.

The protests have led the local council to attempt and close the hotel, which has been houtilizing asylum seekers as part of Home Office plans.

The government has committed to closing all hotels houtilizing asylum seekers by 2029, but argued now is not the right time to close The Bell Hotel.

So, what happened today?

Epping Forest District Council’s battle to shut the hotel for asylum seekers concludeed up in the High Court today.

It had been seeking an interim injunction to stop migrants from being hoapplyd at the hotel, which is owned by Somani Hotels Ltd.

It argued this should happen becaapply the company had breached planning rules, by not utilizing the site for its intconcludeed purpose as a hotel.

In response, the hotel owner warned that an injunction would caapply “hardship” for those living there.

But Mr Justice Eyre ruled in favour of the council, and declared that the council can have an interim injunction.

This means that all asylum seekers must leave the hotel by 12 September – subject to appeal.

Ruling sets a “massive precedent” for other councils

The reason this is so significant is becaapply other council leaders are now declareing that they are believeing about doing the same thing.

Corina Gander, the Tory leader of Borough of Broxbourne Council, has declared the judgement sets a “massive precedent” and has given other councils a “massive boost” to appeal against the apply of other hotels.

Meanwhile, Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, declared the ruling is “important to other councils up and down the counattempt”.

“It reveals the government cannot ignore planning rules,” he warned.

Somani Hotels Ltd has had its initial request to appeal the decision turned down by the judge. But it could still inquire the Court of Appeal for the go-ahead to appeal the judgement.

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