UK asylum system would descend into chaos without more hotels, says minister

Angela Eagle said short-term solution necessary despite Labour election pledge to end use of accommodation

The asylum system would descend into chaos" if Labour refused to open more hotels for people seeking refuge in the UK, a Home Office minister has told the Guardian.

Angela Eagle, the minister for borders, security and asylum, said officials had been forced to find more private accommodation for new arrivals and blamed the backlog of tens of thousands of cases built up under the last government.