Lotte Hughes has written a letter revealing how asylum seekers are living in 'grim' conditions in hotels in Oxfordshire.

Misinformation and myths abound how about how asylum seekers in hotels must be living in luxury, and having an enjoyable time at taxpayers’ expense.

Quite apart from the bigger political issue (people are only in hotels because the government has failed to process asylum claims quickly enough, leading to a large backlog), let’s consider the other side of the story.

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If you try talking to, better still befriending, refugees in hotels you’ll learn that conditions are grim.

The food is often inedible, especially for those on special diets.

Residents aren’t allowed to cook in their rooms, or even have a fridge.

Oxford Mail: A bedroom at Oxford Witney HotelLiving in limbo for months or years on end while waiting to hear the result of asylum claims is incredibly stressful.

Depression is rife, and other stress-related illness common. Children have nowhere to play but in the narrow corridors.

In school, language problems make refugee children feel isolated and depressed in the first few years. If people complain, they are often ridiculed by hotel staff.

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My refugee friends say they just want to get on with their lives, find work, and settle down. They desperately want to contribute to their new society, and are already calling Britain home.

Barred from employment, one does voluntary work, just to have something useful to do. They are eagerly learning English in college.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Witney HotelI urge people to empathise with fellow human beings who have already suffered hugely traumatic experiences fleeing conflict, danger and persecution.

This could happen to any one of us.

Moreover, according to Home Office figures, around three-quarters of all asylum claims are eventually granted, which belies the claim that "they’re all economic migrants".

Lotte Hughes

Address supplied 

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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