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Tensions flared in East London on Tuesday evening as a large group of local residents gathered outside the Britannia Hotel in response to the arrival of multiple coachloads of migrants earlier in the day.
Eyewitnesses reported that six full buses arrived at the hotel shortly after 7:00am, carrying asylum seekers under a Home Office-managed relocation initiative. The unexpected influx sparked immediate backlash, with locals alleging that they were not consulted or informed ahead of the move.
By 6:30pm, dozens of protesters had gathered outside the hotel, chanting and holding signs calling for “transparency” and “fairness for local communities.” Police were seen on site monitoring the situation, but no arrests have been reported so far.
A spokesperson for the Home Office confirmed the arrivals but sought to downplay local concerns, stating:
“The individuals brought to the Britannia Hotel this morning are not being transferred from the Epping accommodation facility. The cohort at Epping will remain where they are for the time being.
The government continues to use available hotel space while longer-term asylum housing solutions are progressed.”
Residents, however, say their concerns go beyond location:
“It’s not about where these people are from — it’s about the lack of consultation,” said Paul N., a father of three who lives nearby. “We had no warning. We woke up and suddenly the whole hotel is full. That’s not how a community should be treated.”
Another protester, Susan Malik, voiced frustration at the ongoing use of hotels for housing migrants, saying:
“We’ve got a housing crisis in London. Local people are struggling, and it feels like we’re being left out of decisions that directly affect us.”
Community leaders and local councillors have called for an urgent meeting with the Home Office to clarify the long-term plan for the Britannia Hotel and to ensure that support is in place both for the migrants and the local community.
The Britannia Hotel is one of several sites across the UK currently being used to accommodate asylum seekers while their claims are processed. The practice has drawn increasing scrutiny from residents and politicians alike, with some arguing that the strain on local infrastructure and services is unsustainable.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are monitoring the demonstration and that public order officers remain on standby. They urged both protesters and supporters to remain peaceful.
