Nigel Farage warns 'migrants have more rights than British people' after Epping asylum hotel ruling

Almost 140 men have been staying at the hotel in the leafy Essex town, with locals expressing grievances following the arrest of 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu over allegations of sexual assault.

However, the Court of Appeal today overturned a recent decision to grant a temporary injunction, instead siding with the Home Office and hotel owners at Somani Hotels.

Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, warned that the previous ruling was "seriously flawed in principle".

He added: "The judge's approach ignores the obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system."

Following the ruling, Mr Farage said: "The Government has used ECHR against the people of Epping.

"Illegal migrants have more rights than the British people under Starmer."

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick also waded in on the row.

A source close to Mr Jenrick told GB News that the top Tory has convened a meeting with Britain's top planning silk Charlie Banner KC to provide advice to any councils who want to launch legal action against asylum accommodation.

Mr Jenrick added: “Yvette Cooper’s decision to put two fingers up to the legitimate anger of the British public will surely inspire even more protests across the country.

"People are fed up with the Government siding with illegal migrants over the British people."

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said: "Local communities should not pay the price for Labour's total failure on illegal immigration.

"Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.

"This ruling is a setback, but it is not the end. I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels - KEEP GOING!"

Following the Court of Appeal's ruling, the Labour Government yet again said that Sir Keir inherited a "chaotic asylum accommodation system".

Sir Keir has overseen a decrease in the number of asylum seekers being housed in taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation and closed some of the facilities.

Border Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “We inherited a chaotic asylum accommodation system costing billions.

"This Government will close all hotels by the end of this Parliament and we appealed this judgment so hotels like the Bell can be exited in a controlled and orderly way that avoids the chaos of recent years that saw 400 hotels open at a cost of £9million a day."

Despite the number tanking compared to a high-point in September 2023, the number of asylum seekers in UK hotels has risen by eight per cent since Labour came to power.

Sir Keir is also pushing for the closure of all taxpayer-funded asylum hotels in 2029.

However, the Prime Minister's previous pledge to close RAF Wethersfield has not been delivered upon, with the Essex asylum facility currently witnessing an enormous expansion.

Mr Farage's intervention comes just days after the Reform UK leader unveiled his "Operation Restoring Justice" strategy to curb Channel crossings.

Speaking in Oxfordshire, the Clacton MP said: "I suppose the growing anger in the country in the course of the last few weeks is a cultural one.

"In the sense that many of these young men come from countries in which women aren't even second-class citizens.

"And, frankly, the public have now just had enough. What began as a protest of mothers and concerned citizens outside the Bell Hotel in Epping has now spread right across the country.

"All of it really poses one big fundamental question. Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of women and children being safe on our streets?

"Or are you on the side of outdated international treaties backed up by a series of dubious courts?"

Mr Farage is proposing the deportation of around 600,000 illegal migrants, Britain's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights and the signing of a returns deal with the Taliban.