Labour struggling to slash 'unsustainable' foreign aid spending on asylum hotels, despite vow to end practice

Ministers are struggling to cut the amount of foreign aid it spends on hotels for asylum seekers , official figures reveal.

The Government plans to spend £2.2 billion of overseas development assistance (ODA) this financial year.

But this is only a fraction less than the £2.3 billion the Home Office spent in 2024/25, according to BBC News .

Labour promised at the last general election to "end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds".

Foreign aid is mostly supposed to be spent on development assistance and humanitarian aid to alleviate poverty overseas.

However, millions of taxpayers’ money is still being spent accommodating migrants, many of whom are waiting for their claims to be proceeded.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp PA

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phil