A prominent barrister has launched a fierce attack on the Home Secretary's management of legal proceedings concerning an Essex asylum accommodation facility.
Steven Barrett described Yvette Cooper's approach to the Epping hotel case as an "absolute mess" and "absolute car crash" during a GB News appearance.
His criticism centres on the Government's failure to join the legal proceedings as a formal participant.
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"If they wanted to be involved in this case, they should have made themselves a party," Mr Barrett stated.
Steven Barrett said the Labour Government appears 'desperate'
|GB NEWS / PA
He said that officials arrived at court on the hearing day seeking last-minute permission to participate.
"As far as I can tell, they turned up on the day and begged for the judge's mercy which again, is pretty embarrassing in His Majesty's Government," the barrister explained.
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Ministers are now attempting to secure permission to challenge a High Court decision that prevents asylum seekers from staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping.
The Home Office confirmed its intention to seek involvement in the case, which would enable them to mount an appeal against the ruling.
Home Office launches legal appeal to overturn landmark Epping migrant hotel ruling
Security minister Dan Jarvis told broadcasters: "This Government will close all asylum hotels and we will clear up the mess that we inherited from the previous government."
He added: "We've made a commitment that we will close all of the asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, but we need to do that in a managed and ordered way. And that's why we'll appeal this decision."
A senior Home Office official characterised the matter as one of "democracy", arguing that courts should not dictate where the government accommodates asylum seekers.
Epping Forest District Council secured a temporary injunction earlier this week, requiring the 140 asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel to vacate by 16:00 BST on 12 September.
Steven Barrett joined Alex Armstrong on GB News
|GB NEWS
The council's legal action cited concerns about "escalating community tensions" and potential "irreparable harm to the local community".
Recent demonstrations have drawn thousands of protesters to the Bell Hotel following charges against an asylum seeker residing there for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The hotel's owner, Somani Hotels, has announced plans to challenge the court order through their solicitors.
Mr Barrett delivered particularly sharp criticism of the Government's approach to the legal challenge, describing their last-minute intervention attempt as "a total admission of failure".
The barrister emphasised that the presiding judge had produced a 120-paragraph ruling over the weekend following Friday's hearing, suggesting awareness of potential challenges ahead.
"I don't think that is normal in an interim injunction case so he clearly knew something was going to challenge him," Mr Barrett observed.
He drew an unflattering comparison to illustrate the Government's reactive stance: "What if we got invaded by Russia tomorrow? We can't have Dan Jarvis come and speak to the media tomorrow saying, 'we will deal with Russia by the end of this Parliament', it's just not on."
Mr Barrett concluded that ministers should have anticipated and addressed the situation with adequate preparation time.