Why we need to close the Metropole as an asylum hotel

The Metropole Hotel should be closed to asylum seekers and returned to its former glory.

The hotel was commissioned to house asylum seekers for three months under the Conservatives in 2021, but hundreds of vulnerable families, including many pregnant women, are still housed there today. 

I know this issue is deeply important to my constituents and it’s personal to me. My mum moved to Blackpool in the 1980s to work at the locally listed Metropole – then a Butlin’s Hotel – as a redcoat. 

This place is a symbol of our town's warmth and spirit. We must honour that legacy by ensuring that the Metropole serves a purpose that benefits all of us. It is time for the owners to take action. This hotel should be closed as an asylum hotel immediately, invested in and returned to its original purpose as a destination for holiday makers and locals. Doing so will not only help with Blackpool's regeneration but also restore our vibrant holiday scene.

 Together, we can create a community that welcomes those in need while supporting the well-being and prosperity of our residents. Blackpool deserves a future where compassion and practicality go hand in hand. 

See my full message to constituents in the video above.