Asylum seekers to stay at Bell Hotel in Epping after government wins appeal

I think we expected this. The Judiciary are selected from their conformity t government group-think and Lord Justice Bean who gave the judgement and Lady Justice Nicola Davies who sat with him are text book examples. The third judge, Lord Justice Cobb, is a newby; he has only been in the Court of Appeal for 8 weeks. More about the Judges later. 

This is ITVX reporting the verdict. 

Asylum seekers will be allowed to remain living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, after the government won an appeal against a ruling ordering their removal.

Three senior judges ruled on Friday that the temporary injunction requiring the 138 asylum seekers to be removed from the site by September 12 can be set aside, and errors by the judge “undermine his decision.”

Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said: “We grant permission to appeal, both to Somani and to (the Home Office).”

He continued: “We allow the appeals and we set aside the injunction imposed on 19 August 2025.”

Lord Justice Bean was also critical of Mr Justice Eyre’s decision to take the protests outside the hotel into account as part of the case for the planning injunction.

He warned “this runs the risk of acting as an impetus or incentive for further protests. At its worst, if even unlawful protests are to be treated as relevant, there is a risk of encouraging further lawlessness. The judge does not appear to have considered this risk,” he told the court.

Epping Council could still be granted an injunction following a full hearing of the legal claim, which is due to be heard in October. The judges also said that the decision to block the Home Office’s bid to intervene in the case was “erroneous”.

I was startled at Bean LJ’s tone reading his verdict as played on Radio News this afternoon.  The Telegraph described his remarks as ‘scathing’.  

Chris Philp, shadow home secretary, said: “The Epping case has seen the Labour Government using the courts against the British public.  The government even brazenly said in court that the rights of illegal immigrants were more important than the rights of local people. . . ”

Speaking outside the London court after the ruling, Ken Williamson, member of cabinet for Epping Forest District Council said: “We understand Government faces a dilemma, but that should not be at the expense of local communities. Planning law may seem dull, it might seem boring, but it goes to the heart of the relationship between local communities and good government.  It enshrines the rights of local people to have a say within their own communities, and it should not be set aside lightly. The Government can still listen.  It needs to understand and take responsibility for the events that have taken place in Epping over the past six weeks, for the trauma and disruption brought upon our community.”

The council could still be granted an injunction following a full hearing of the legal claim, which is due to be heard in October.

The leader of Epping Council has accused the Home Office of failing to help the town “get back to normal”.

Councillor Chris Whitbread told Sky News he was “really, really disappointed” by the ruling.

“Last week we had clarity and resolution and this week we now have confusion around us,” he said. “We will be back in October, we will continue to fight for our residents’ interest. We certainly haven’t been served in court today.”

Appealing for peace in the town, Mr Whitbread said: “If people feel that they have to protest, please protest peacefully. Last night’s protest was loud from 30 men (no Pink ladies for this protest after dark) but there was no violence and having made their present heard they left. 

Tonight’s protest is forming up in front of the hotel and ladies in pink are present. A similar protest is also forming outside the Delta Marriot in nearby Cheshunt.  Broxbourne council intended to follow Epping’s example in seeking an injunction. Another protest is planned in Epping for Sunday, and I have heard of at least a dozen elsewhere. 

About the Judges. The Telegraph has background. 

A judge who ruled migrants can stay in an Essex hotel was the chairman of a prominent socialist think tank. . . the Cambridge-educated Lord Justice Bean was chair of the 141-year-old Fabian Society from 1989-90.

The society works very closely with Labour, is an affiliated party organisation and its membership is predominantly made up of Labour members. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, also previously served as chair of its commission.

Lord Justice Bean, 71, was also reportedly a member of the Labour Party for at least 28 years before he became a judge. He served as a treasurer for the Society of Labour Lawyers, The judge was a founding member of Matrix Chambers when it was set up in 2000. Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, also practised there. As did  Cherie Blair – wife of the former Prime Minister Tony Blair 

Lady Justice Nicola Davies … is seen as a trailblazing woman in the legal profession. . .  she has held the role of senior co-liaison judge for diversity.

The third panellist, Lord Justice Cobb, has sat in the Court of Appeal only since July 1