(Image: T&A)
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A second asylum hotel in Bradford is set to close, according to an MP.
Labour MP Naz Shah (Bradford West) has announced that the Merchants House Hotel in Little Germany will stop operating as accommodation for asylum seekers.
She described the move as another step towards ending the use of asylum hotels in the district.
The Labour MP said the closure formed part of the Government's wider plans to reduce reliance on hotel accommodation for asylum seekers and reform the immigration system.
MP welcomes latest closure
In a statement shared on social media, Ms Shah said: "Another asylum hotel is closing in Bradford.
"Merchants House Hotel will cease operating as an asylum hotel."
She added: "The Government has committed to ending the use of expensive asylum hotels, while working to bring greater fairness, control and effectiveness to our asylum and immigration system."
She said that net migration had fallen and said further work was needed to ensure immigration is managed through what she described as safe and legal routes.
"I welcome another step towards ending the use of asylum hotels in Bradford," she said.
Naz Shah MP (Image: T&A)
Future of former asylum hotel remains unclear
The move follows the closure of the Dubrovnik Hotel in Manningham as asylum accommodation, which was announced in August.
While the Government said the site could help support the local economy once returned to community use, the hotel's owner told the Telegraph & Argus that it remains closed and that no decision has been made on its future.
It is therefore unclear whether the three-star venue will reopen as a hotel.
Merchants House Hotel in Bradford, which is set to stop operating as asylum accommodation by the end of the year. (Image: T&A)
Government aim to reduce hotel use
The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has been a contentious issue across the country, with the Government repeatedly pledging to reduce and ultimately end reliance on the accommodation.
Ministers have argued that hotel use places a significant financial burden on taxpayers and have said efforts are being made to process asylum claims more quickly while increasing alternative forms of accommodation.
The closure of Merchants House Hotel would further reduce the number of asylum hotels operating in Bradford.
It is not yet known what future use is planned for the building once asylum accommodation ends.