It has been confirmed by the MP for Milton Keynes North that contracts are set to be terminated for asylum hotels in Newport Pagnell and Woughton.
Ben Everitt, the Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North, has confirmed the Home Office is set to terminate the contracts for the hotels for asylum seekers in Milton Keynes.
Currently, there are two hotels in the city contracted by the Home Office to house asylum seekers with one in Woughton-on-the-Green and the other in Newport Pagnell.
In August 2023, concerns were raised over an asylum seeker hotel in Newport Pagnell after it was revealed that the hotel is owned by Tulip Real Estate Ltd, a company majority owned by Mr Siddharth Mahajan. Mr Siddharth Mahajan was convicted in 2019 of several offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act which included perverting the course of justice and forging documents.
The revelation lead to urgent calls from the City Council leader and MK Labour party to immediately terminate the contract, with the City Council stating it was given 'no notice'.
Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North asked the Home Secretary to suspend the use of the site and launch an investigation. The hotel in Newport Pagnell was then not used to home asylum seekers and the situation was put under review.
It has now been confirmed the contracts with both hotels will be terminated and will cease being used by the end of March.
Ben Everitt MP commented on the announcement: “I know residents have been concerned about the use of asylum seeker hotels in Milton Keynes so I'm delighted both hotels used for asylum seekers will return to being normal hotels.
"This is only possible because of all our hard work on stopping illegal immigration with small boat arrivals down by 36 per cent in 2023.
"We've changed the law so that if people come here illegally they will not be able to claim asylum in the UK and have increased the number of officers patrolling the French coast by 40 per cent.
"We're getting on with the job while Labour have tried to stop us and played politics at every opportunity nationally and locally."
