Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stirred controversy by suggesting that the UK should house asylum seekers in dedicated camps rather than in hotels or housing within communities. Speaking in Epping, Essex, she asked:

“Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities?”

She emphasised that temporary structures similar to the Nightingale hospitals, built rapidly during the pandemic, could be repurposed as secure processing centres.

“We need to process people in detention centres. We need to build proper camps where we keep people safe, whether they are migrants or the local communities",

She argued, adding that the current hotel-based approach allows individuals to come and go freely, which she believes is inappropriate.

Badenoch made these comments against the backdrop of growing public unease and protests in towns like Epping, where local residents have voiced safety concerns about asylum seekers being housed nearby. Her proposal comes as official figures show that over 50,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since Prime Minister Starmer took office in July 2024, a milestone that has increased pressure on all parties to deliver credible solutions.

Supporters of Badenoch's strategy argue that well-managed camps could streamline asylum processing and reduce the strain on local host communities. Critics, including refugee advocates, have condemned the suggestion as “deeply troubling”, warning that it risks evoking the image of containment rather than humane reception.

Badenoch nonetheless defended her stance by emphasising urgency and adaptability. She declared:

“We’ve got to turn things around very quickly. We cannot use rules from 1995, or 2005, or even 2015 for 2025. Our world is changing very quickly, and we need to adapt to it.”