The MP for Copeland has welcomed a decision by the Immigration minister to close a Whitehaven hotel as a facility to house asylum seekers.

During a statement to the House today, Robert Jenrick MP said the ‘exits’ would begin in the coming days, with further hotel contracts coming to an end by January.

The with historic Waverley Hotel in Whitehaven in the first tranche of 50 hotels to close by the end of January 2024.

Mrs Harrison, said: “Further to the announcement today from Minister Robert Jenrick I am pleased that there has been a successful outcome and that the Waverley Hotel will no longer be used to house Asylum Seekers.

“I would now very much like to see the Waverley Hotel being used as a hotel to assist in the mission of ensuring that Whitehaven becomes a tourist destination of choice and that we encourage the millions of visitors that come to the Lake District to travel to the town and other areas of my constituency to enjoy and celebrate all that we have to offer.”

The minister confirmed that dedicated resources were being put in place to facilitate the orderly and effective management of the process, limiting the impact on local communities.

There has also been a clamp down on rogue employers, with 4,721 illegal working visits carried out between the start of January and the end of September 2023.

A shake up of civil penalties in August also means employers of illegal workers are set to face fines of up to £60,000.