Keir Starmer is under threat of a Labour council revolt after the Epping migrant hotel ruling this week.
On Tuesday, Epping council, which is run by the conservatives, won a temporary High Court injunction to remove migrants from the Bell Hotel, which has become a focus for anti-immigration protests in recent weeks.
Wirral and Tamworth, both run by Labour, have now said they are considering taking legal action.
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Anti-asylum seeker protests were sparked in Wirral after plans emerged to use a hotel for male asylum seekers instead of families.
Cllr Paula Basnett, the leader of Wirral council, said: "Like many other local authorities, we have concerns about the Home Office’s practice of placing asylum seekers in hotels without consultation or regard to local planning requirements.
"We are actively considering all options available to us to ensure that any use of hotels or other premises in Wirral is lawful and does not ride roughshod over planning regulations or the wishes of our communities.
"Wirral has always been proud of its record in supporting families and those fleeing conflict, but it is unacceptable for the Government to impose unsuitable, short-term arrangements that disrupt communities and bypass local decision-making."
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|Keir Starmer is under threat of a Labour council revolt after the Epping migrant hotel ruling this week
She told the Telegraph: "If necessary, we will not hesitate to challenge such decisions in order to protect both residents and those seeking refuge.”
Following the ruling, the council said it would now explore the possibility of challenging if the change in demographics breached any planning laws.
The second Labour Council, Tamworth, have also said it would look to challenge the use of the Holiday Inn Express in the town, which was a focus of violent disorder during the Southport riots last summer.
The leader of the Labour council, Cllr Carol Dean, said: "I understand the strong feelings within our community regarding the use of the Holiday Inn to house those seeking asylum, and I want to reassure residents that we are listening to their concerns and taking them seriously.
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|Epping has become a focus for anti-immigration protests in recent weeks
Ms Dean added: "Nationally, Labour came to power just over a year ago. The use of hotels has halved from 402 at their peak to 210 now, with a national pledge to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.
"However, following the temporary High Court injunction granted to Epping Forest district council, we are closely monitoring developments and reviewing our legal position in light of this significant ruling.
Ms Dean confirmed that the council had previously considered legal action when the Home Office began using the hotel in 2022; however, it did not go through with the idea because the courts did not uphold temporary injunctions.
She continued: “The situation at Epping Forest represents a potentially important legal precedent, and we are carefully assessing what this might mean for our circumstances here in Tamworth.”
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|Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, speaks to the media outside the High Court following the ruling
Other councils across Britain also indicated that they would now look to use the courts to close asylum accommodation.
Cllr Ian Edwards, the leader of the Tory-run Hillingdon council, said: “Our head of legal will be reviewing the interim judgment to determine if a similar case can be brought in Hillingdon.
“We need to understand fully why the Epping case has succeeded, where others previously failed, before we can determine if those differentiating circumstances also apply in Hillingdon.”
Reigate and Banstead council, which is also under Conservative control, said: “We are aware of the decision in Epping and are closely monitoring developments at this time.”