ARMED Forces Minister Luke Pollard has said that the government’s deadline for ending the use of hotels to house migrants is being moved forward.

Speaking on GB News, he said: “We’ve deployed military planning teams into Border Security Command and the Home Office to look at military and non-military sites about what would be suitable for the construction of temporary but adequate accommodation.

“That means we can move people from asylum hotels into those locations so we can close asylum hotels. The PM is absolutely clear. He said so directly to me in a meeting last week, as he did to the members of the Cabinet, that he wants to see every single asylum hotel closed.

“We’ve got a commitment to do that by the end of this Parliament, but he wants to bring that forward, and that means every government department stepping up and doing their bit to support that effort.

“That’s what the MoD is doing. We’re looking at all our sites and other locations as well as to how we can use the expertise that the MoD has, those people that supported the Covid response, that help with emergencies such as flooding around the country, how we can support in this national effort to close asylum hotels and assist in the renewal of the asylum system that will see us process applications faster return people with no right to be in the UK, and slow the flow of those people crossing the Channel.”

Asked, during a discussion with Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello, who should replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader, he said: “I haven’t seen the list of candidates yet, but I know we’ve got some incredible talent on the Labour benches.

“Now this is a role that’s a political role being deputy leader of the party, and I hope that in the contest that’s going to be taking place, our NEC, our governing body, will set out the timetable and the rules very shortly.

“I hope we’ll have a debate about how we can go faster and further to implement more of our manifesto quicker. Because people are impatient for change.

“I’m impatient for change, and I know ministers across the government want to see the change that we’re elected to deliver delivered faster.

“If we can have a debate that focuses on, how do we drive growth? How do we drive down inequality and poverty? How do we further cut NHS waiting lists, and importantly for me, how do we make sure that every single child goes to school in the mornings with a full belly so they can learn?

“These are opportunities that I think will unite not just the Labour movement and the Labour Party, but those voters that put their trust in Labour at the general election to be able to say yes, more of that, but that’s a debate that I’m looking forward to in the coming weeks ahead.”