UK town erupts at furious local protest against migrant hotel

Locals have been protesting against immigration outside a hotel in Hampshire. Video posted on social media shows a group of about 30 people gathered by the side of a road in Aldershot, with placards reading "Stop the boats" and "Stop the invasion". The footage was posted on Wednesday (July 16) via X accounts, including one followed by former prime minister Liz Truss.

People holding placards protested outside a hotel in Aldershot during last summer's riots, sparked by the murder of three young girls in Southport. Protesters held placards reading, "Deport them, don't support them". Local MP Alex Baker said at the time that the protest was made worse by people from outside the town arriving determined to cause unrest.

At least 22,000 people have arrived in the UK across the English Channel since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.

Last week, some 1,375 migrants arrived in the UK after making the crossing, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.

Hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers have long attracted protesters opposed to the rising bill for their use and the presence of migrants in their communities.

The Labour Government has pledged to end their use before the next general election in 2029. Doing so would save the UK £1billion per year.

As of last month, there were about 32,000 asylum seekers housed in hotels.

There were angry, violent scenes in Epping, Essex, on Sunday (July 13) with protesters and counter-protesters clashing after an asylum seeker staying in a hotel was charged with sexually assaulting a child.

A decision to house 146 male asylum seekers in a hotel in Cambridgeshire sparked a row in April, with locals claiming their concerns were ignored by the Home Office.

Last week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new "one in, one out" migration agreement between the UK and France.

However, the deal still faces legal hurdles and consultation with the European Union before it can come into effect.