Tower Hamlets Labour councillors have compared demonstrators protesting against migrant hotels to Nazis, invoking the borough’s history of resisting fascism as tensions escalate over asylum accommodation in east London.
The Labour group issued a statement condemning “right-wing extremists” following protests in Epping, Essex, whilst new demonstrations erupted outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf amid speculation it would house asylum seekers relocated from the troubled Essex facility.
Police descended on the four-star Canary Wharf hotel on Tuesday evening as protesters and counter-protesters gathered, with officers forming blockades outside the entrance and more than a dozen police vans deployed to the scene.
The East End has a long history of providing a safe haven for those fleeing religious and political persecution,” Tower Hamlets Labour Group stated. “As Labour councillors, we are proud of that history and believe Tower Hamlets should continue to play its part.”
The councillors drew parallels to the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, when up to 300,000 East End residents, including Jewish communities, Irish dockers and trade unionists, prevented Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists from marching through the area.
“We are appalled that some right-wing extremists are seeking to use this moment to stir up racial hatred against refugees and other migrants too,” the statement continued. We stand with the overwhelming majority of decent people here in Tower Hamlets who will reject their divisive politics, just as our borough rejected Mosley’s Black Shirts in the 1930s and the BNP in the 1990s.
The statement comes as the Home Office confirmed it had taken over the Britannia International Hotel in Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, for potential use as overflow accommodation. Sources indicate some migrants may have been relocated from the Bell Hotel in Epping, where violent protests erupted earlier this month.
The Epping demonstrations began on 13 July following the arrest of Hadush Kebatu, 41, an Ethiopian asylum seeker charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Kebatu denied the offences and was remanded in custody at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 17 July.
Essex Police reported 10 arrests in connection with the Epping protests, with eight officers injured during violent clashes. Four men have been charged with violent disorder, whilst a fifth was charged with failing to remove a face covering.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow of Essex Police said: “We will not hesitate to make arrests when criminality takes place.” The policing operation in Epping alone cost £100,000, according to police sources.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington to resign after footage appeared to show officers escorting counter-demonstrators to the Epping hotel. Farage posted on social media: “There is no way Chief Constable BJ Harrington can stay in position.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Harrington rejected calls for his resignation, stating: “The issue is not about my resignation. It is about the people of Epping. It is not for Essex Police to make a judgement about asylum or immigration policy. That is for Government.”
The chief constable denied claims that police had “bussed in” protesters, calling such suggestions “categorically wrong.” He emphasised that police have a duty to facilitate lawful assembly and freedom of speech whilst maintaining public safety.
Farage warned that Britain was approaching “civil disobedience on a vast scale,” blaming “bad eggs” for violence whilst claiming most protesters were “genuinely concerned families.
“I don’t think anybody in London even understands just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country,” the Clacton MP said on Monday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned Cabinet colleagues that another summer of riots remains possible, telling ministers it is essential to repair the “social fabric” or risk further anti-immigration unrest.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch responded by blaming Labour for strains on social cohesion. Angela Rayner is saying the social fabric is fraying, but she needs to do something about it,” she said.
The controversy highlights growing tensions over asylum accommodation as hotels across the country continue to house migrants whilst their claims are processed. The average cost per night for hotel accommodation was £118.87 in March 2025, down from £162.16 in March 2023.
Tower Hamlets Council confirmed it was working with the Home Office regarding the Britannia Hotel, stating: “It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.
The Battle of Cable Street reference by Labour councillors recalls a pivotal moment in British anti-fascist history. On 4 October 1936, between 100,000 and 300,000 people prevented 5,000 uniformed members of Mosley’s British Union of Fascists from marching through the predominantly Jewish East End, despite 7,000 police attempting to clear their path.
The clash led to the Public Order Act 1936, which banned political uniforms and required police permission for large demonstrations. Tower Hamlets has since erected a mural commemorating the event, which has itself been targeted by far-right vandalism over the decades.
As tensions continue to rise, Essex Police confirmed a “robust policing operation” would be in place for any future protests, with “hundreds of officers on duty” to maintain order.
The situation remains volatile as communities grapple with concerns over asylum accommodation whilst authorities attempt to balance the right to protest with maintaining public safety and preventing violence.
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