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Extra beds are being delivered to a luxury hotel in Canary Wharf this morning that is being converted to house migrants.
Staff could be seen today unloading mattresses at the four-star Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf, after the government said it intends to use it as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
A row erupted after Tower Hamlets Council seemingly confirmed the claims people had been moved from a hotel in Epping, after protests last week.
However, the Home Office flatly denied that those moving into the hotel have been moved 20 miles.
Existing hotel staff told Metro today they had been made redundant, with agency staff being brought in to run the hotel.
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A team were unloading beds flanked by private security with metal gates surrounding the Britannia following last night’s protests.
Workers were also unloading a pallet of orange juice and other food.
A mother of two who had been redundant arrived for her last shift.
She told Metro: ‘I don’t think it’s right that I and all the staff have been given redundancy letters. We are taxpayers and have done nothing wrong.
‘Now we will struggle to make ends meet. We are gutted.
A local in his 30s told Metro: ‘I was brought up around here and now work at Canary Wharf. It’s not right that the migrants are given this when people are struggling to live.’
Local independent MP Apsana Begum last night said: “In Poplar and Limehouse, we are clear: refugees are welcome here.
‘In the face of relentless demonisation and targeting, we continue to stand with migrants for their rights to safety and dignity.
‘It’s the far-right and their hateful ideology that are not welcome here.’
A police officer told Metro: ‘I’m here to keep the peace after yesterday’s demonstrations.’
Newly-appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said he understands ‘the desire to protest’ when asked about demonstrations outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers.
There have been a series of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, since an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault.
Asked if he has sympathy for people protesting outside asylum hotels, the Tory MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I understand the desire to protest.
‘There is never any excuse for rioting and we are seeing that agitators, both on the left and the right, are descending upon these communities to try and stir things up and there’s never an excuse for that, but I do understand why local people are frustrated.
‘When I was home secretary, as a government we were closing the use of asylum hotels. I, as home secretary, cut net migration in half, still too high, but I cut it in half.
‘The Labour Government thought it was going to be easy and what we are now seeing is a complete collapse of border control; we saw the worst first half of the year when it comes to small boats arrivals on record; they are opening up asylum hotels; they are increasing the use of asylum accommodation around the country, and people are angry and they’re frustrated.’
He added: ‘I never said it started under Labour, but it has demonstrably got worse when they thought it was going to be easy.’
What are charities saying about this?
Fizza Qureshi, CEO of the Migrants’ Rights Network said: ‘The recent demonstrations outside asylum accommodation in London clearly show that the racist riots of last summer were not isolated incidents.
‘We know from our friends in Northern Ireland that far-right mobilisation never went away, and it has been gathering pace with the constant demonisation of people seeking asylum.
‘The far-right have appropriated discourse about sexual violence against women and girls in the UK in an attempt to sow anti-migrant racism for years.
‘From Knowsley in 2023 and Southport last summer to Ballymena in May, the far-right are quickly inflaming communities struggling with years of austerity and the cost-of-living by scapegoating migrants.
‘Meanwhile, the Government is doing nothing to prevent this false discourse.
‘We must be vigilant in identifying and stamping out disinformation from the far right, politicians and the media that sows division and channels hate towards marginalised people whilst ensuring our communities are kept safe.’
Enver Solomon, CEO of Refugee Council, said: ‘Asylum hotels have become a flashpoint for tension in communities, cost billions to the taxpayer, and leave people trapped in limbo.
‘Ending their use is in everyone’s interest, but the Government’s current plan to phase them out by 2029 is far too slow.
‘Resolving asylum claims quickly and fairly will reduce costs and allow the men, women and children trapped in limbo in hotels to move on with their lives.
‘We need radical reform of the accommodation system so that councils can house people in the community. This is safer, cheaper, and enables people to rebuild their lives, integrate, and contribute, as we know the vast majority of refugees want to do. Getting decisions right first time also ensures that those who do not have the right to stay in the UK can be returned with dignity and respect.’
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, warned he would bring thousands with him to another planned protest.
Last night, police could be seen lining up outside the entrance of the hotel in response. One protester wearing a St George’s Flag warned the Express: ‘This place is a tinderbox, mark my word.’
A commanding officer was filmed telling angry protesters: ‘Let me tell you nobody from the Bell Hotel is being moved here.’
Lee Anderson, the Chief Whip of Reform UK, said the police had confirmed the ‘rumours’ to him.
He added: ‘The rumours are true. [I am] absolutely furious.
‘This hotel must cost a couple hundred quid a night to stay there. Most normal people could not even afford to stay here for a weekend, but we’ve got illegals coming.
‘I hope the protesters remain peaceful. They seem like a quiet bunch at the moment. Let’s hope it is all peaceful.’
The protests follow disorder in Epping last week, which saw police vans and an undercover car smashed as hundreds of protesters took over the small Essex town.
The protests were sparked following the arrest and charge of an asylum seeker on suspicion of alleged sexual assaults in the Essex town.
An officer from Norfolk was struck in the face by a bottle and taken to hospital.
Police hit out at ‘hooligans’ after spending £100,000 to tackle the acts of violent disorder.
Chf Supt Simon Anslow said: ‘The cost of policing criminal incidents in Epping over the last week has reached £100,000 – money which we would much rather spend on continuing to cut crime across Essex and keeping our neighbourhoods safe.’
Neighbours also shouted ‘Go home’ to protesters hurling rocks and flares at police.
Five men have been charged after the alleged violent disorder in Epping.
Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive in Loughton, Essex, denied violent disorder at Southend Magistrates’ Court, but entered no plea to another charge of criminally damaging a sign at the hotel by shaking it.
51-year-old Dean Smith, of Madells in Epping, entered no plea to a charge of using or threatening the use of unlawful violence at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
He was remanded in custody until the August hearing.
A 47-year-old and a 36-year-old man, both from the Epping Forest district, were also charged with violent disorder on Tuesday.
A 34-year-old man from Wickford was accused of failing to remove a face covering.
The three men were due to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 August, Essex Police said.
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