Claim: Labour has halved the number of hotels used to house asylum seekers.

You might have seen claims this week that Labour has “halved” the number of hotels used to house asylum seekers. This was repeated on BBC Radio 4, in The Guardian, and on social media by journalists and politicians.

So… is that the case?

Our verdict:

This is not correct. The number of hotels peaked at just over 400 in summer 2023, and as of last month stood at 210. But most of this fall came under the Conservatives—under Labour there has been a net reduction of three hotels, from 213 in July 2024.

How we fact checked it

Here’s the process we followed to make sure we were accurate:

1. Tracked the original claim
   • BBC Radio 4’s Today programme said Labour “halved” the number.
   • Similar claims appeared in The Guardian, Sky News, and on X.
2. Checked official data
   • Government figures show the peak (402 hotels) was in summer 2023.
   • In July 2024 (when Labour took office): 213 hotels.
   • In July 2025: 210 hotels.
3. Contacted sources
   • Asked the Home Office, broadcasters, and journalists for clarification.
   • Sky News corrected its report after we flagged the issue.
4. Published the correction & context
   • Explained the timeline clearly: most closures happened under the previous government.

Read the full fact check here: Labour hasn’t ‘halved’ the number of asylum hotels