Protests erupted across the UK on Saturday against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with counter-demonstrations by antiracism groups leading to clashes and arrests.

The rallies followed a High Court ruling blocking a hotel in Essex from hosting asylum seekers after local opposition.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, facing record-high asylum applications and Channel crossings, says it will appeal the decision while pledging to close all asylum hotels by 2029, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The unrest comes as far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pushes for “mass deportations” and withdrawal from international refugee agreements, fueling tensions over immigration policy.