UK government faces backlash over foreign aid misuse for asylum accommodation
- The Home Office anticipates spending £2.2 billion in overseas development assistance this financial year.
- Over 38,000 asylum seekers are currently housed in costly hotels, a situation that has drawn widespread criticism.
- There is increasing pressure on the government to stop diverting foreign aid to cover asylum accommodation costs.
In the UK, recent figures from the Home Office indicate that the government is struggling to reduce the £2.2 billion budget allocated for overseas development assistance (ODA), primarily used for asylum support. The bulk of this budget, approximately £2.1 billion, is expected to cover accommodation costs for asylum seekers. Since the general election, there has been a notable increase in the number of asylum seekers housed in expensive hotels, rising by over 8,000 to a total of 38,079 by the end of December. Amid escalating criticisms from aid organizations, ministers have been accused of ineffectively managing the funds, with comparisons drawn to the prior Conservative government's approach. Labour's stance includes a commitment to cease the use of the foreign aid budget for asylum seekers' accommodation, though they acknowledge an immediate halt isn't feasible. Labour's election manifesto promises to end the reliance on asylum hotels, aiming to save taxpayers billions. Gideon Rabinowitz from the Bond network emphasizes that diverting £2.2 billion of UK aid to cover accommodation expenses is both unsustainable and poor value for money. The funds allocated for asylum support are at the expense of critical development and humanitarian programs that address the root causes of displacement. Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee, underscores that aid should focus on helping the world's poorest populations rather than funding expensive accommodations in the UK. In a recent statement, the Home Office reiterated its commitment to ending the use of asylum hotels and noted a reduction in overall asylum support costs. Furthermore, the home secretary expressed concerns about the financial implications of current spending on asylum accommodation. This situation raises questions about the balance between supporting vulnerable individuals seeking refuge and the effective use of taxpayer money to uphold the UK’s development aid commitments.