A young individual seeking asylum expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards Keir Starmer for helping him secure the right to stay in the UK. Khadar Mohamed, aged 24, who had been residing at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, praised the Labour government for allowing him to remain in the country on humanitarian grounds. He is now set to relocate to Bradford, West Yorkshire, with a strong determination to contribute positively to society.

Khadar shared his joy by stating, “I am thrilled to have been granted permission to stay on human rights grounds. I deeply appreciate the support from the Government, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to Keir Starmer.” He also expressed optimism that many others in similar situations at the hotel will also be permitted to stay, emphasizing the need for understanding and stating, “We are not bad people.”

Amid tensions around migration, demonstrations took place outside the Bell Hotel during the summer, with anti-immigration protesters voicing their concerns. However, Khadar, along with other asylum seekers, including those in Oxford, highlighted their fears and desire to work and contribute to society in the UK. Khadar, a Somali national, believes that attitudes towards asylum seekers are shifting positively.

Recent measures to curb boat crossings, such as the “one in, one out” scheme with France, have been put into action. The first migrant, an Indian national, who arrived by small boat, was repatriated by plane, marking a significant step according to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In a separate case, an Eritrean man faced deportation to France, with his legal team arguing against the decision in court.

In another development, Epping District Council announced intentions to escalate efforts to close down the Bell Hotel following legal proceedings. The Council plans to take the case to the Supreme Court after a temporary injunction to relocate asylum seekers was overturned by the Court of Appeal.