Star Hotel in Southampton set to house asylum seekers, MP told

Royston Smith, Conservative MP for Southampton Itchen, has been informed that the Home Office has decided to use the Star Hotel as emergency accommodation.

The government is already using the Dolphin Hotel to house asylum seekers while their applications to stay in the UK are assessed.

The Star Hotel at night. Picture: Daily Echo Camera Club member John Ruddy (Image: John Ruddy)

Mr Smith said: "It has been brought to my attention that Southampton is again being asked to accommodate a large number of asylum seekers, with the Star Hotel being identified as a location for emergency housing by the Home Office.

"We all understand that the government has a statutory obligation to house asylum seekers.

"However, Southampton is taking in considerably more asylum seekers than other local authorities and the government is not providing enough funding to cover the full costs."

Mr Smith said he was "very concerned" about the decision to use the Star Hotel.

He added: "I am in contact with the Home Secretary and the Minister for Immigration opposing this decision on the strongest of terms."

The Dolphin Hotel (Image: Newsquest.)

Last month Mr Smith hit out at plans to continue using the Dolphin Hotel, saying it would increase pressure on facilities that were already overburdened.

He said: "Many of my constituents are often struggling to get appointments with GPs and dentists and many local resources, such as schools, are stretched to the limit.

"While I understand that asylum seekers have to be accommodated somewhere, city centre hotels are not, in my opinion, the answer.

"Southampton has been overlooked for investment for decades.

"We have not benefitted from levelling up funds, as many northern cities have, and our resources are already inadequate for the existing population."

Royston Smith, Tory MP for Southampton Itchen (Image: Newsquest.)

Mr Smith spoke out after receiving a letter from Ann Smith, deputy director of resettlement, asylum support and integration at the Home Office.

She said: "While we do not wish to use hotels in the long term, and are working to reduce our reliance on them, a number of factors mean that we must provide accommodation on a temporary basis now to comply with our statutory duties."

A Home Office spokesperson added: "The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation."

The Star has been contacted for comment.

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