An investigation has revealed that citizens of EU countries are receiving free accommodation in taxpayer-funded hotels and houses in the United Kingdom. According to reports, 150 EU migrants from countries such as France, Portugal, and Sweden were living in taxpayer-funded contingency accommodation in March. Home Office data showed as many as 150 US citizens and up to 20 asylum seekers from nations including Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, and other countries were also living in the UK at public expense as of March 31, 2026.
Many of these individuals are believed to be seeking asylum on grounds of racial, religious, or gender-based persecution, despite having traveled from countries considered safe and with strong human rights records, as reported by the Telegraph. However, international human rights law and refugee conventions require the Home Office to assess each asylum claim, regardless of the applicant's country of origin.
Legal Obligations and Controversy
Despite having little prospect of securing asylum, migrants deemed destitute and unable to meet their living costs have until now been legally entitled to accommodation and financial support from the Home Office. The Labour government is changing the law so that such support will be discretionary rather than automatic.
Neil O’Brien, shadow minister for policy renewal and development, who uncovered the data, told the Telegraph: Many people would be surprised we even entertain asylum claims from nationals of these countries, never mind give them taxpayer-funded asylum accommodation. These people are basically economic migrants shopping around. They are likely originally from third countries, but have already got nationality in very rich and safe countries and now want to come to the UK. There is no way you can credibly claim that the government of New Zealand or Sweden is a threat to your life.
High-Profile Case: Sami Tumarevic
Sami Tumarevic, a Lithuanian who arrived in Britain in 2004, was due to be deported after serving a six-year prison sentence for armed robbery. However, he sought to delay his removal by claiming asylum. In 2023, he argued that his life would be in danger in Lithuania because of his ethnic and genetic makeup and that he would be at risk from the police. His application was ruled inadmissible because it did not meet the required exceptional threshold. He then delayed his removal further by seeking a judicial review of the decision, which was dismissed in October 2024, according to the Telegraph.
Home Office Response
A Home Office spokesman said: Most asylum claims from these countries are rejected or withdrawn, with just 3% of applications granted asylum in the last year. Asylum claims are assessed on individual merit, and those found not to need protection will be refused. The Government has already reduced the number of asylum seekers in asylum hotels by 35% in the past year. Overall asylum support costs are down by 15% in the last financial year, helping reduce asylum support costs by nearly £1bn.
