Taxpayers picked up £4,000 bills for luxury hotel stays for migrants

UK taxpayers picked up £4,000 bills for luxury hotel stays abroad for migrants who were deported during Covid

• Most migrants were put up in four-star accommodation 
• The most lavish costing more than £4,000 for a room in a five-star hotel
• A Turkish criminal who returned to UK for court appeal was put in £2,200 room
• The Home Office declined to comment on the matter

Taxpayers paid thousands of pounds for luxury hotel stays abroad for migrants kicked out of the UK during the pandemic.

Most were put up in four-star accommodation, with the most lavish costing more than £4,000 for a room in a five-star hotel with sweeping ocean views.

When they were sent back, the UK picked up the bill for migrants who had to be put up in hotels, to comply with quarantine restrictions in their home nations.

In one case, a Turkish criminal who had returned to the UK for a court appeal was put up in a hotel at a cost of more than £2,200.

The average cost of a quarantine hotel stay paid for by the Home Office was more than £1,000, with the most expensive costing £4,027 for 21 days at one of two five-star Sheraton hotels in Hong Kong pictured above that participated in the quarantine scheme during the pandemic

Taxpayers paid thousands of pounds for luxury hotel stays abroad in places such as Mauritius pictured above for migrants kicked out of the UK during the pandemic

At least 18 people who were deported from the UK during the pandemic had their hotel quarantine paid for at a cost to taxpayers of more than £19,926, Home Office data shows.

But this figure is likely to be far higher, as the data only includes accommodation paid for outside of normal Home Office travel arrangements – meaning hotel stays for dozens or even hundreds of people deported to other countries are likely to have been paid for by the Government.

The average cost of a quarantine hotel stay paid for by the Home Office was more than £1,000, with the most expensive costing £4,027 for 21 days at one of two five-star Sheraton hotels in Hong Kong that participated in the quarantine scheme during the pandemic.

Reviews of both of the Sheraton Hong Kong hotels at the time described them as an ‘amazing quarantine experience’ with good food and an ‘amazing sea view’.

One reviewer said: ‘An amazing sea view, soft cosy bed, and a tidy and clean room made my quarantine perfect.

‘Highly recommend to everyone who is searching for a quarantine hotel.’ Migrants are deported if they have arrived illegally, committed crimes in the UK, or have overstayed temporary visas or work permits.

Those who had their hotel stay paid for by the UK were subject to ‘immigration removal’ or had agreed to voluntarily return to their home country after being caught by immigration officers.

Most countries introduced travel restrictions during the pandemic, with many, including the UK, forcing people to spend time in a hotel upon arrival – including anyone deported during this period.

Six people were put up in hotels after being returned to Mauritius, two to Italy and Hong Kong, one each to Saint Kitts and Nevis and to Thailand, and there were four to unknown destinations.

One note attached to a Home Office payment of £586 explained: ‘To purchase a hotel room for a migrant who we were returning to Italy. 

The Covid entry requirements to Italy require passengers to self-isolate for five days following their arrival and as the migrant had no address in Italy we agreed to purchase a hotel room where he could self-isolate.’

The Home Office declined to comment on the matter.

Source: Read Full Article