The Home Office is booking thousands of empty hotel beds for illegal immigrants to avoid any overcrowding at processing centres, MPs have been told.
Home Office Second Permanent Secretary Simon Ridley told the public accounts committee on Monday they were trying to keep a “buffer” of 5,000 beds at hotels around the country in case there is an influx of small boat crossings in the English Channel.
Last year the Manston processing centre in Kent became extremely overcrowded and was at one point accommodating 4,000 illegal immigrants.
In November 2022 pro-immigration campaigners threatened legal action against Home Secretary Suella Braverman over conditions at the facility….