Reform has railed against high levels of immigration and the numbers coming to the UK in small boats across the channel. In its general election manifesto it said it would implement a freeze on non-essential immigration. Those with certain skills – for example in healthcare – would still be allowed to come to the UK.

Local councils don't have control over nationwide immigration policy, but Farage has said his party will "resist central government plonking hundreds of these young men in these counties that we now run". Grimes said Reform would not "allow our communities to be a dumping ground for illegal migrants". In her victory speech, Reform's new mayor for Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns said: "I say 'no' to putting people in hotels.

Tents are good enough for France; they should be good enough for you in Britain." The Home Office is responsible for housing adult asylum seekers and while councils can object, they have little power to stop people being housed in their areas. A rise in the numbers of people seeking asylum has led to hotels being increasingly used for accommodation.

In its manifesto the Labour government promised to stop using hotels for this purpose, which in 2023/24 cost £3.1bn; however early this year a minister confirmed the number of hotels had risen since the election.