Canary Wharf Protests Put Spotlight on New 28-Day Limit for Asylum Housing Support

The recent protests in Canary Wharf have reignited debate over the UK's asylum housing system. At the centre of the dispute is the government's decision to cut the time newly recognised refugees can remain in asylum accommodation from 56 days to just 28 days.

Demonstrations outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers have drawn attention to the pressure between government policy, community concerns and the welfare of people seeking protection. The protests have also raised questions about whether the government's approach can balance efficiency with fairness.

Protests at Canary Wharf

In July, demonstrators gathered outside the four-star Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf after it was identified for use as asylum accommodation, according to LBC. Protesters attempted to block access, lit flares and clashed with police, who issued dispersal orders and used powers to compel the removal of face coverings. At least one officer was struck during the unrest, according to The Times.

Organisers claimed the hotel's conversion into asylum accommodation would strain local services and argued that residents had not been properly consulted. Several arrests were made as confrontations escalated. Similar demonstrations have been reported across the UK, often marked by nationalist symbols such as Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags.

The 28-Day Rule Explained

The protests have been fuelled by a wider policy shift. Earlier this year, the Home Office reduced the period that newly recognised refugees can stay in asylum accommodation from 56 days to 28.

Ministers argue the change will reduce reliance on hotels and accelerate integration into communities. However, refugee organisations including the British Red Cross and Naccom say the timeframe is unworkable. They warn that four weeks is insufficient to apply for Universal Credit, secure housing or find employment, particularly in the context of high rents and stretched local authority budgets, according to The Guardian.

Campaigners also argue that reducing the so-called 'move-on period' risks pushing people into homelessness and destitution. They stress that the policy affects more than just administrative procedures, as it shapes whether refugees can build stable and safe lives in the UK.

National Context

The scenes in Canary Wharf reflect a larger national challenge. As of March 2025, around 32,000 asylum seekers were being housed in fewer than 210 hotels across the UK, a reduction from nearly 400 in 2023, according to figures cited by Sky News. London remains the centre of the crisis, with more than 12,000 people in temporary accommodation.

Legal disputes over the policy are also increasing. A Court of Appeal ruling earlier this year allowed the continued use of the Bell Hotel in Epping for asylum housing. Since then, more than a dozen councils have launched challenges against the Home Office, arguing that they were not properly consulted and that costs have been shifted onto local communities without adequate support, AP News reported.

A Divisive Debate

The 28-day rule has sharpened tensions between government targets, public opinion and the needs of vulnerable families. Supporters see it as an overdue attempt to reduce hotel dependence and bring costs under control. Critics, however, argue that it reflects a hardening stance on asylum that fails to safeguard basic welfare.

In Canary Wharf, the protests highlight how a local dispute has become a symbol of a national policy struggle. Whether the new rule succeeds in easing pressure on the system or simply deepens division remains uncertain. What is clear is that the government now faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that efficiency can coexist with compassion in one of the country's most sensitive policy areas.