The High Court in London rejected a request by Braintree District Council, a local authority in southeastern England, to prevent the British government from accommodating asylum seekers at a

former military base.

The council had sought an injunction to stop the Home Office from housing up to 1,700 asylum seekers at the site, arguing that the government was misusing emergency powers to do so. The judge ruled that he did not have the jurisdiction to grant the injunction, but granted the council permission to appeal against his decision.

The Home Office defended its use of surplus military sites, stating that they provide cheaper and more suitable accommodation than costly hotels. The council expressed disappointment with the ruling but welcomed the opportunity to appeal. The case is likely to go to the Court of Appeal and could impact the government's plans to use other disused military bases to house asylum seekers.

The government estimates that up to 140,000 asylum seekers may need accommodation this year due to the anticipated arrival of 56,000 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boat arrivals one of his priorities, following a record 500% increase in arrivals on the south coast of England in the last two years. Photo by Trevor Wright, Wikimedia commons.