Protesters gather at hotel after asylum seekers told to move to Napier Barracks

Protesters gathered outside the hotel after a number of asylum seekers received a message from Internal office that they would be “shortly” transferred to Napier Barracks.

Dozens of people gathered outside a hotel in north London on Tuesday afternoon with banners reading “Refugees welcome here.”

Seven asylum seekers staying at the hotel received a letter on Monday saying they would “soon be moved to alternative accommodation”.

One of the letters, seen by the PA news agency, said the person addressed would be held at the barracks in Folkestone, Kent, for between 60 and 90 days.

Last week, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to end the use of hotels for migrants and start using alternative sites such as abandoned holiday parks, former student halls and surplus military sites.

Local Labor MP Ekaterina Zahadwhich represents Hornsey and Wood Green, said it had written to the immigration minister asking it to halt any moves, saying the reports had “obviously caused enormous distress”.

In a statement, she said: “This is a disgraceful way to treat vulnerable people just days before Christmas.

“People come here seeking refuge and benefit from support from local health services, charities, faith groups and the council.

“Depriving them of this support without any warning or assessment of their needs is cruel and has caused great distress to people who have already suffered unimaginable trauma.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Office continues to provide safe accommodation for disadvantaged asylum seekers who need it while we work to end the use of hotels, which are costing the UK taxpayer almost £6 million a day.

“Our accommodation contractor in Napier provides full board accommodation that is safe, comfortable and meets our service standards.

“Persons who are in our housing may be moved to other places in accordance with the instructions on the allocation of housing. No one will be moved if it is dangerous for them.”