Fact check: ‘Asylum hotels', employment data and ‘enhanced customs monitoring'
Earlier this week, amid concern about unrest outside a hotel in Epping used to house asylum seekers, shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly MP claimed in a broadcast interview: '[Labour] are opening up asylum hotels, they are increasing the use of asylum accommodation around the country'.
It is true that under Labour the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has increased, as our Government Tracker explains. According to the latest available data, 32,345 asylum seekers were housed in hotels at the end of March 2025, up from 29,585 at the end of June 2024, just before Labour came into office.
The data also showed there were 71,339 asylum seekers living in other types of non-hotel accommodation at the end of March 2025, compared with 67,057 at the end of June 2024. The majority were in 'dispersal accommodation', which is longer-term temporary accommodation managed by providers on behalf of the Home Office, with others housed in 'initial accommodation', which is typically shared accommodation while an asylum seeker is having their claim for support assessed.
The Home Office told us that 210 asylum hotels are currently in use as of July 23, and that they expected more to close. On March 3 2025, Dame Angela Eagle MP, minister for border security and asylum, said that in July 2024 there were 213 hotels in operation, suggesting the number of hotels in use is currently slightly lower than when Labour first came into office.
According to the Home Office's latest accounts, 'the total number of contracted hotels reduced by 71 across 2024-25', although it did not specify the starting or end totals, and this time period also includes figures from when the Conservatives were in office.
It is worth noting however that while the overall number of hotels in use appears to have come down slightly, there have been recent reports of new hotels being intended to house asylum seekers. It is possible this is what Sir James meant when he said Labour was 'opening up' hotels.
We have contacted Sir James for comment.
Unemployment and jobs: what has happened under Labour?
In recent weeks we have seen contrasting claims being made about the labour market – in particular, on how unemployment has changed since Labour came into Government in July 2024.
There are a number of different sources of statistics on the labour market. These datasets all measure slightly different things, and as a result debate on employment, unemployment and jobs can often be confusing – for example, we regularly see seemingly contradictory claims on these topics made during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), when in fact each side is referring to completely different data.
For instance, during some recent sessions of PMQs, both the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have claimed that 384,000 jobs have been created under Labour.
These claims have been challenged by the Conservative party and others, who have pointed out that under Labour unemployment has risen.
This confusion is likely because Sir Keir and Ms Rayner are referring to workforce jobs data, which includes both employed and self-employed jobs and does indeed show a 384,000 increase in the number of jobs between June 2024 and March 2025 (the latest month for which figures are available).
But these figures look at the number of jobs and are not comparable with data on actual employment (or unemployment), which looks at the number of people who are (or are not) working, as some people have more than one job.
Going abroad four times a year will not flag you to HMRC for 'enhanced customs monitoring'
We have seen a number of social media posts claiming that the Government is introducing a new system called 'enhanced customs monitoring' on August 4 to 'track UK residents who leave the country more than three times within a 12-month period' to check they are living within their means. But this is not true, and no such system exists.
Videos circulating online claim that on someone's fourth trip abroad, an automatic alert will be sent to the 'mobility oversight unit', said to be a new branch under HMRC and the Home Office, which will check whether people's 'declared income, employment status and tax residency match [their] lifestyle'.
The videos claim this new system was revealed after a leaked briefing was reported by the Guardian newspaper.
They go on to say this includes both holidays and work trips, and all modes of travel.
A spokesperson for HMRC confirmed the information is untrue and told Full Fact that 'this video is disinformation, designed to cause undue alarm and fear'. They added: 'Anyone wanting information on rules around taxation should go to Gov.uk or seek advice from a tax professional.'
Full Fact could not find any results for 'enhanced customs monitoring' or a 'mobility oversight unit' on UK Government websites, or on the Guardian website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Trump speaks of ‘great love' for Scotland and labels Starmer a ‘tax cutter'
Mr Trump spoke of his 'great love' for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation 'thrive' ahead of his discussions with the Prime Minister that were expected to focus on Gaza and trade. The American leader attacked Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan as a 'nasty person' and hailed both Sir Keir and Nigel Farage as 'great men' as the leaders took a series of questions across domestic and foreign affairs. The president also indicated that the US may not impose heavy tariffs on British pharmaceuticals, telling reporters that 'we certainly feel a lot better' about the UK working on drugs that will be sold in the States compared to other nations. Mr Trump and Sir Keir took questions for more than an hour in a meandering press conference ahead of their meeting at Turnberry on Tuesday afternoon. Referring to the Prime Minister and the Reform UK leader, the US president said: 'I happen to like both men. I like this man (Sir Keir) a lot, and I like Nigel. 'And, you know, I don't know the politics over here. I don't know where they stand. I would say one is slightly liberal – not that liberal, slightly – and the other one is slightly conservative, but they're they're both good men.' He added: '(Sir Keir) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made. But I think that, I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.' The president had earlier said that he thinks Sir Keir, who has been in office for more than a year, will be 'a tax cutter.' The two leaders were expected to discuss trade as part of their meeting, weeks after Mr Trump unveiled a new tariff regime for goods entering the US from other nations. Asked by reporters whether his plans for an import levy on medicines would affect the UK, the US president told reporters: 'We will be announcing on pharmaceuticals some time in the very near future. We have a very big plan on pharmaceuticals. 'We want to bring a lot of the pharmaceuticals back to America, where they should be.' He later added: 'You also have a good pharmaceutical business – we'll be dealing with you on pharmaceuticals also – and we certainly feel a lot better with your country working on pharmaceuticals for America than some of the other countries that were … with the relationship we have, you would not use that as a cudgel. You wouldn't be using it as a block.' During the same press conference, Mr Trump described the Labour London mayor Sir Sadiq as a 'nasty person' who has done 'a terrible job', while Sir Keir jumped to his defence. Speaking to reporters, the US president said: 'I'm not a fan of your mayor. I think he's done a terrible job, the Mayor of London … a nasty person.' The Prime Minister intervened to say: 'He's a friend of mine, actually.' The question session inside the President's Turnberry resort came after he suggested that the UK is 'doing a fantastic thing' in trying to reduce immigration via small boat crossings. Mr Trump said he knows 'nothing about the boats' when asked about the issue but said 'my hats are off to you' if the UK is trying to reduce immigration. Sir Keir and his wife Lady Starmer were greeted by the President and a chorus of bagpipes as they arrived in South Ayrshire on Monday. When Mr Trump was asked about how he would deal with small boats, Sir Keir explained that it refers to people who are crossing the Channel. Mr Trump told reporters: 'If you're stopping immigration and stopping the wrong people … my hats are off to you. You're doing, not a good thing, you're doing a fantastic thing. 'So, I know nothing about the boats, but if the boats are loaded up with bad people, and they usually are, because, you know, other countries don't send their best, they send people that they don't want, and they're not stupid people, and they send the people that they don't want.' Turning to the Prime Minister, Mr Trump added: 'And I've heard that you've taken a much stronger stance on this.' The latest data from the Home Office indicates that 122 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday. Asked about tariffs on whisky, Mr Trump said: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' And he said of the special relationship: 'Our relationship is unparalleled.' The meeting between the leaders comes as part of Mr Trump's five-day, private trip to Scotland. No 10 said they reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and agreed to continue talks on the UK-US trade deal during their private talks at Turnberry. They also discussed plans for the president's upcoming state visit in September, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Readers discuss migrant protests, Labour's left-wing, water systems and taxes
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. It's so depressing that a heinous crime is being used as a political football to attack refugees. Far-right activists claim that the reason they are targeting a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping is because one of those asylum seekers was arrested for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl (Metro, Mon). Rates of sexual assault are just as high among men born and bred here as they are among ethnic minorities or migrants. Why aren't these activists also protesting about that? When a white Brit is said to have committed a sexual offence, where are all these guys? Fighting for better prevention strategies and higher rates of police investigation? Nope. They're busy finding some other reason to bash the migrants. Because this isn't about safety. It's about racism. Charlie Parrett, Stoke When I want to solve a problem, I go after the cause. If Nigel Farage and other right-wing politicians actually cared about migration, they'd try to get to the bottom of what's causing it. We've already tried to limit benefits to migrants and the right to bring their families with them, so it isn't that. The ones who come illegally don't have the right to claim benefits anyway. People are risking their lives to come here. Why? If there's not a pull, then there must be a push. These people's homelands are being torn apart in a hellstorm of totalitarianism, war and famine. If you want to stop people coming here, you have to help sort out the countries they're coming from. Remember – if someone's talking about a problem but they're not trying to solve the problem, then they're trying to use the problem to serve their own ends. Helen Shaw, Liverpool Robert Hughes (MetroTalk, Mon) says Jeremy Corbyn's new party will only benefit the Conservatives and Reform by splitting Labour's left-wing vote. Perhaps if Labour offered any sort of concession or appealed to the left wing of its party (its not really extreme considering Labour call themselves democratic socialist) then Corbyn's party wouldn't have nearly as much momentum. They have nobody to blame but themselves. Maybe Labour should worry about their own voter base rather than trying and failing to appeal to the right? James Freeman, Bognor Regis Our junior, now called 'resident', doctors are either striking or leaving altogether because we don't have the money to pay them enough. Our water system is collapsing because we don't have the money to take it back under public ownership. We can't give disabled people the extra help they need because we don't have the money for their 'pip' personal independence payments. We don't have the money to help children with special educational needs, either. All because chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to tax the unused wealth of the super-rich. People say that if we have a wealth tax, these super-rich people will leave. And maybe some of them will. But a lot of them won't. People aren't motivated by money alone. They're motivated by where they and their families want to live and work. Is it really worth bankrupting our country just to hold on to as many super-rich people as possible? And besides, if we're so broke that our basic infrastructure is starting to fall apart, surely that would be a good reason for those people to leave anyway. Rob Slater, Norfolk The death of a child from measles in Liverpool this month highlights the UK's decline in vaccination rates. Some areas are seeing rates below the 95 per cent target recommended by the World Health Organization. More Trending Sadly, this will lead to more deaths from preventable diseases. The spread of lies and disinformation – particularly on social media – is leading to a misplaced distrust in vaccines. Vaccines have been proven to be safe and have saved millions of lives, including from Covid. If vaccination rates continue to fall, we will see more tragic deaths that could have been easily prevented as well as outbreaks of previously eradicated diseases. Mark Dawes, London MORE: Noel and Liam Gallagher's brother Paul Gallagher, 59, charged with rape MORE: Back-to-school coats sorted – Regatta has kids covered (literally) with up to 50% off MORE: If your dry cuticles are screaming for help this new launch is the answer
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Trump speaks of ‘great love' for Scotland and labels Starmer a ‘tax cutter'
Donald Trump labelled Sir Keir Starmer as a 'tax cutter' and said he did a 'great thing with the economy' ahead of their meeting at Turnberry. Mr Trump spoke of his 'great love' for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation 'thrive' ahead of his discussions with the Prime Minister that were expected to focus on Gaza and trade. The American leader attacked Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan as a 'nasty person' and hailed both Sir Keir and Nigel Farage as 'great men' as the leaders took a series of questions across domestic and foreign affairs. The president also indicated that the US may not impose heavy tariffs on British pharmaceuticals, telling reporters that 'we certainly feel a lot better' about the UK working on drugs that will be sold in the States compared to other nations. Mr Trump and Sir Keir took questions for more than an hour in a meandering press conference ahead of their meeting at Turnberry on Tuesday afternoon. Referring to the Prime Minister and the Reform UK leader, the US president said: 'I happen to like both men. I like this man (Sir Keir) a lot, and I like Nigel. 'And, you know, I don't know the politics over here. I don't know where they stand. I would say one is slightly liberal – not that liberal, slightly – and the other one is slightly conservative, but they're they're both good men.' He added: '(Sir Keir) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made. But I think that, I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.' The president had earlier said that he thinks Sir Keir, who has been in office for more than a year, will be 'a tax cutter.' The two leaders were expected to discuss trade as part of their meeting, weeks after Mr Trump unveiled a new tariff regime for goods entering the US from other nations. Asked by reporters whether his plans for an import levy on medicines would affect the UK, the US president told reporters: 'We will be announcing on pharmaceuticals some time in the very near future. We have a very big plan on pharmaceuticals. 'We want to bring a lot of the pharmaceuticals back to America, where they should be.' He later added: 'You also have a good pharmaceutical business – we'll be dealing with you on pharmaceuticals also – and we certainly feel a lot better with your country working on pharmaceuticals for America than some of the other countries that were … with the relationship we have, you would not use that as a cudgel. You wouldn't be using it as a block.' During the same press conference, Mr Trump described the Labour London mayor Sir Sadiq as a 'nasty person' who has done 'a terrible job', while Sir Keir jumped to his defence. Speaking to reporters, the US president said: 'I'm not a fan of your mayor. I think he's done a terrible job, the Mayor of London … a nasty person.' The Prime Minister intervened to say: 'He's a friend of mine, actually.' The question session inside the President's Turnberry resort came after he suggested that the UK is 'doing a fantastic thing' in trying to reduce immigration via small boat crossings. Mr Trump said he knows 'nothing about the boats' when asked about the issue but said 'my hats are off to you' if the UK is trying to reduce immigration. Sir Keir and his wife Lady Starmer were greeted by the President and a chorus of bagpipes as they arrived in South Ayrshire on Monday. When Mr Trump was asked about how he would deal with small boats, Sir Keir explained that it refers to people who are crossing the Channel. Mr Trump told reporters: 'If you're stopping immigration and stopping the wrong people … my hats are off to you. You're doing, not a good thing, you're doing a fantastic thing. 'So, I know nothing about the boats, but if the boats are loaded up with bad people, and they usually are, because, you know, other countries don't send their best, they send people that they don't want, and they're not stupid people, and they send the people that they don't want.' Turning to the Prime Minister, Mr Trump added: 'And I've heard that you've taken a much stronger stance on this.' The latest data from the Home Office indicates that 122 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday. Asked about tariffs on whisky, Mr Trump said: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' And he said of the special relationship: 'Our relationship is unparalleled.' The meeting between the leaders comes as part of Mr Trump's five-day, private trip to Scotland. No 10 said they reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and agreed to continue talks on the UK-US trade deal during their private talks at Turnberry.
