A migrant made the gesture just hours after the Home Office won its appeal to continue housing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel.
A migrant standing in a hotel window in Bournemouth put up his middle finger to protesters. (Image: Max Willcock/BNPS )
Just hours after a court ruling allowed for the Bell Hotel to continue housing asylum seekers, a smiling migrant was caught giving protesters the middle finger. Standing in a window at the Roundhouse hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, the man was grinning while raising his finger to the hundreds of demonstrators outside before he was led away.
The hotel is being used to house asylum seekers, and it is one of three in Bournemouth to do so. Around 200 peaceful protesters gathered on Friday, calling for the establishments to stop housing migrants. This included members of the Pink Ladies who carried flags and dressed in their trademark colour, as well as families. One attendee expressed her “rage” over the court’s decision, claiming the “Government is not listening”.
Demonstrations took place outside of Bournemouth on Friday night. (Image: Getty)
“They don’t care about British citizens. They’re more concerned with providing for illegal immigrants that have come across the channel on a boat,” Sheila Booth said.
Marianne Roscoe-Hudson, who also attended, added: “We have a focus here, in Bournemouth, there’s three hotels, full of immigrants and it’s not right.”
The demonstration took place after the Home Office won a legal appeal on Friday, meaning the Bell Hotel in Essex can continue to house the 138 asylum seekers living there. Residents of Epping, who had been demonstrating outside the hotel for weeks to have it closed, also protested outside the migrant accommodation after the ruling.
Somani Hotels, which owns the property, and the Home Office sought to challenge a High Court ruling which would have prevented asylum seekers from being housed there beyond September 12.
This came after Epping Forest District Council won a bid at the High Court to block migrants from being housed at the hotel.
Responding to this, one migrant in his 30s, who had been told not to speak to the public or leave his hotel room, told The Telegraph: “I am pleased. It had been a worry.”
Another said: “I want to say thank you to Keir Starmer and his government.
“I am delighted with the news, wow. That is really amazing.”
Despite the ruling, at least thirteen other local authorities across all parties are following Epping’s lead in seeking an injunction, The Times reports. This includes Reform UK councils, such as West Northamptonshire and Staffordshire.
At least four Labour-run councils are doing the same, including Wirral, Stevenage, Tamworth and Rushmoor authorities.
Conservative leader of Broxbourne council Corina Gander said her authority is continuing with its legal bid, as is Spelthorne council in Surrey.
