Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty describes the situation involving the lack of safety for hundreds of children as a “national systematic issue”.
Since July 2021, 136 asylum seeking children went missing from specially opened hotels in Hove. After continuous objections by the council, the Home Office opened them regardless, with many of the employees being unqualified.
So far, the Green Party has sent multiple letters to the Home Office asking them to close the hotels.
During the extraordinary meeting, a heated debate between the Labour and Green Party evolved. While Green Party Councillor Marianna Ebel called out Labour for “electioneering on the back of vulnerables”, Labour Councillor John Allcock said: ”The Greens (are) patting themselves on the back for sending (…) a couple of letters is ridiculous”.
Although the Home Office has temporarily shut down all hotels, Councillor Bella Sankey said that they will be re-opened in summer and questioned the future. She said: ”What happens when the hotel starts filling up again?”
The Labour Party’s motion included an expert in asylum and immigration law to investigate the councils role but with a carried amendment by the Green Party, the council’s Chief Executive will write a letter to Home Office Secretary Suella Braverman instead, leaving Labour surprised by the outcome of the meeting. Councillor Sankey said: “(The) notice of motion was not meant to be controversial”.
Councillor Jackie O’Quinn said that the main point of the meeting, which was to help these children, was missed and everyone needs to work through this together.