Labour has been accused of “writing a blank cheque for illegal immigration” after it was revealed the eyewatering amount a Home Office contractor spends on taxis. Taxpayers are footing a multi-million pound bill to ferry asylum seekers to and from medical appointments. Legal papers show that Clearsprings Ready Homes, a private company contracted by the government to provide accommodation for migrants, has given one company almost £350,000 a month for 6,000 journeys.

The transport firm, PTS-247, charges £1.85 a mile for trips which are over 175 miles. The company is now suing Clearsprings for £2.75 million in unpaid invoices. Hotel staff booked cars on an automated system if residents could provide proof of an upcoming meeting, such as a GP visit. One example is Iraqi migrant, Kadir, who said he was told to take a £600, 250-mile taxi ride to see a knee consultant after he was moved to a different hotel.

Kadir told the BBC: “Should the Home Office give me the ticket for the train? This is the easy way, and they know they spend too much money. We know as well, but we don’t have any choice. It’s crazy.”

The revelations have sparked political outrage as the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, accused Labour of “writing a blank cheque for illegal immigration”.

Reform UK’s Dr David Bull said: “If you live here and pay taxes, it’s difficult to see a GP in the first instance. But asylum seekers seem to have fast-track access.”

However, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook defended the principle of providing transport, arguing: “These are not ordinary citizens just jumping on a bus. These are asylum seekers having claims processed.

“That’s why they’re in hotels in the first place. But it’s very questionable why such a long distance was travelled.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The Home Secretary has asked the department to urgently look into the use of taxis to transfer asylum seekers.”