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WATCH: Epping protests 'will not stop' in light of High Court ruling, Karen McIvor says
Nov 11, 2025
The High Court's decision for The Bell Hotel in Epping to continue housing asylum seekers has been branded "shocking" and a "let down" to locals.Speaking to GB News, Reform UK Branch Secretary for Epping Forest Karen McIvor said the community feels they are "banging their head against a brick wall" in getting the hotel closed down.FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
Essex Council has lost its bid for a High Court injunction
0:03
to block asylum seekers being housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping
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Joining us now is Branch Secretary of Reform UK, Epping Forest, Karen McKeever
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Karen, this is very, very disappointing because I personally thought you might win this one
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Yeah, it really is. So, thank you for having me on. It is so, so shocking
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I mean, my heart goes out to the family as always. You know, the wonderful people of Epping, the wonderful community in Epping
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We have been peacefully protesting since July. And, you know, it's just banging your head against a brick wall
0:42
It's why. The government, they had an opportunity here to show that they're listening to their people and that they're in touch
0:50
Instead, you know, they're not supporting us. They don't care about us
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That's how it feels. and we're just let down again. And it's really worrying, you know
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people in the community are worried. It's just, what next, you know, what next
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It's just, it's just shocking. And you, especially today of all days
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of all the days today, I mean, I've just come from an amazing remembrance service
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with the local community and the children And you know it just I just don understand the logic It wrong on every level It next to a school which is why we been peacefully protesting
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There's trouble all over the country with these hotels, but this particular hotel is next to a school
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and for some reason that doesn't seem to matter. I think everyone can empathise with the struggle, frankly
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that so many people in Epping have been... And it's been cross-party as well. I mean, it seems that there is not a single person, not a single local resident who actually says that this is the best place to put refugees, even if you believe that refugees should be housed on the public purse
1:54
And yet the government throughout this case has said, look, they do want to close the hotel
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They want to close all of the hotels, but they want to do it in an ordered way rather than with sporadic legal judgments
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What do you say to their claim? Well, I think here, they have an opportunity here to act and show that they are listening and, you know, close this hotel, let the rest of the country see that they are listening and they are looking to have a plan and make things better for everybody across the country
2:25
They could have just used us as an example, but they haven't because you know what? They don't have a plan. And these people just keep coming, you know
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And when you look at the heroes you know the heroes that we been remembering today you know they sacrificed to protect us and our borders And right now our borders are in chaos And it scary
2:46
It's scary for everybody throughout the country, and particularly, you know, I'm on today to
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talk about Epping, because we have been like a beacon for the rest of the country. We've
2:56
only conducted ourselves with pure dignity, and we've been peacefully protesting week in
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week out and and it's just it's just wrong that that doesn't matter it's wrong karen what now
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though if this is you know you've lost the the ruling what what are you guys going to do now
3:15
well i'm not an organizer but i fully support the organizers with their next move i stand side by
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side with them um and whatever they do i'll be with them but let me tell you they will continue
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to protest. The protest won't stop. We have to have that hotel closed. I'm not a lawyer
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I don't understand the legal side of it. But I imagine there'll be other opportunities
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to maybe try to further appeal. As I say, I'm not a lawyer. We'd have to have a lawyer
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on to confirm things like that. But we won't give up. We will continue to protest until
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that hotel is closed It is wrong It next to a secondary school And you know God God forbid anything else happens God forbid you know the government have got enough stuff on you know problems on their hands with this hotel alone
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God forbid any other horrible things may happen. You know, it's just I'm so concerned
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Karen, on that point, I've got to ask you, where would you lay the blame if something else happens
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If God forbid there's another sexual assault, if there's another attack emanating from this hotel
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Would that be put at the foot of the Prime Minister? 100% the government, 100%
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The only way this mess is going to get sorted out is to have a change of government
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They're not listening. They're not sharing any plan. They're not reassuring the people of the country
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They're just taking these people in every single day. We don't know who they are
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The undocumented males that are in that hotel could be anybody, and that is our fear
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I've been on telly many times now, talking about this. You know, women afraid to walk their dogs
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We live in Epping Forest. It's a beautiful nature reserve. You know, ladies afraid to ride their horses
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There's been so many horror stories and yet none of that seems to matter
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You know, we are decent people. They don't seem, Karen, they don't seem to be listening
5:10
I hope they will. Karen, it's been really good to talk to you
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That's Karen McIver. She's the branch secretary for Reform UK Epping Forest
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