An MP has called on the Home Office to explain when two asylum hotels in Northamptonshire villages will close following a recent ‘suspicious’ incident.

Stuart Andrew, Tory MP for Daventry, said he had contacted the Home Office again over the continued use of the Ibis Rugby East in Crick and the Holiday Inn Northampton West in Flore.

His comments follow an incident in Flore on October 19, when Northamptonshire Police attended the village after reports of suspicious behaviour.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Mr Andrew said: “I understand residents in Flore are concerned following reports of suspicious behaviour in the village earlier this week.

An incident occurred at the Holiday Inn in Flore (pictured) on October 19, when Northamptonshire Police attended the village after reports of suspicious behaviour.

placeholder image — An incident occurred at the Holiday Inn in Flore (pictured) on October 19, when Northamptonshire Police attended the village after reports of suspicious behaviour.

“I have been raising concerns with the Home Office about the continued use of the asylum hotels at Flore and Crick since November 2024, when I was assured that these would be temporary arrangements.

“Almost two years later, both hotels remain in use, and we still have no clear indication of when they will be stood down.

“I have written to the Home Office again, asking for a proper update on the future of both sites, and will continue to raise residents' concerns.”

In that letter to the Home Office, Mr Andrew said: “I have raised concerns about these hotels with the Home Office repeatedly since November 2024.

“I was assured, as were my constituents, that the use of these hotels would be a temporary arrangement. We are now approaching the two year mark, with both hotels remaining very much in use and with no indication at all as to when they will be stood down.

“This is incredibly frustrating, particularly as the concerns raised at the outset regarding the suitability of these locations has not changed.

“Both hotels are situated on the outskirts of small rural villages in my constituency, with very little nearby in terms of amenities or public transport. I have been consistently clear that these locations are simply not suitable for the number of people being accommodated, let alone for such an extended period of time. There is very little for those staying in the hotels to do, and they are spending much of their time in the surrounding villages. This is not a fair or sustainable arrangement for anybody involved.

“I wrote to you on 21 September following yet another report of anti-social behaviour by hotel residents in Crick. I have now been contacted again by residents in Flore following an incident on 19 October, when Northamptonshire Police attended the village in response to reports of suspicious behaviour. “This has caused further concern among residents, some of whom have told me they no longer feel safe in their own homes.

“I am fully aware of the Government's commitment to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. However, I have not been asking that question. This Parliament is not due to conclude until 2029, and inferences it may be another three years is not an answer.

“The question I am asking is when will these hotels be stood down. We have long passed the point of where this could be considered to have been a temporary arrangement. If a date cannot be provided, an explanation needs to given as to why that is, and what the plan actually is for these two sites.

“I do not think it unreasonable at this stage to expect an answer to that question.”

In response, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The Government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1bn on asylum support since the election.

“We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation and will end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.”

The spokesperson added: “As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area.”

The Home Office said it did not comment on individual sites or operational matters.

It said the number of people in asylum hotels had fallen to 16,000, a reduction of 50 per cent over the past year and 71 per cent since September 2023.

The department added that the number of people receiving asylum support had fallen by 12 per cent over the past year, and said it was moving people into more suitable accommodation, accelerating asylum casework and increasing removals.

The Government remains committed to ending the use of asylum hotels during the current Parliament and says it is on track to meet that commitment.