Chris Philp has expressed concern that the Labour Government may have alternative plans following a High Court decision regarding a migrant accommodation facility in Epping.
The ruling, which sided with local residents opposing the hotel's use for housing asylum seekers, has prompted speculation about the Government's next steps.
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP suggested Labour might shift migrants from hotels into residential properties across communities.
Chris Philp said that Labour may have a "trick up its sleeve"
|GB NEWS
He indicated he would be closely tracking Government data to determine whether ministers planned to relocate individuals into flats and houses of multiple occupation.
The court's decision represents a significant development in the ongoing debate over accommodation arrangements for those arriving in the UK through irregular channels.
He told GB News: "I think it's a good decision by the court, for a change, and I expect other councils will now follow suit and legally challenge the use of hotels for illegal immigrants in their areas as well.
"I have been picking up that the Labour Government’s plan to try and reduce hotel use is simply to move people out of hotels and into flats and HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) which, of course, would ordinarily be used by young people who are long-term UK residents.
"So I’m going to be monitoring this very carefully, monitoring the data to see if that is the trick the Labour Government has up its sleeve.
"But look, the real solution to this problem is to stop illegal immigrants coming here in the first place. It’s to deport them immediately upon arrival either back to their country of origin or some other safe third country.
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"If we can’t remove them to their country of origin, they shouldn’t be in hotels or flats in the first place. They shouldn’t be here at all in the first place."
"We’re under new leadership, with a new approach. I don’t think that hotel should be there at all. I think all people crossing the Channel illegally and by the way, it’s mostly young men from France should be immediately removed."
He added: "Now, we did have a plan to do that: the Rwanda scheme, which Labour very stupidly cancelled just a few days before it was due to start, with no replacement in place.
"That is why this year, 2025, has been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel, and I understand why people are angry about that.
Protesters take to the streets in Epping in their continued demonstration against the hotel
| PA"That’s why we need a new approach, which is that every single person crossing the Channel illegally should be immediately deported.
"I was in the migrant camps in France myself just last week. Those people are in France, France is a safe country. No one is being persecuted in France.
"While I was there, as you probably saw, one of the illegal immigrants pulled out a machete. I got pelted with bottles and a car was hit by missiles. Some of those people who did that last week could by now be in the UK.
"They could by now be in a hotel just around the corner from where any of your viewers live. They might be committing crimes in this country now."