A Cabinet minister has accused Reform UK of stoking tensions over asylum hotels as protests continue.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said “whipping up anger” serves the political interests of Nigel Farage’s party.
Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice said it is “ridiculous” to suggest the party supports anything other than lawful, peaceful protests.
Five people were arrested on Saturday after a group of masked men attempted to enter a hotel in London as anti-asylum protests continued across the country.
It comes after three men were arrested and two charged following a protest on Friday in Epping, Essex, where the Bell Hotel has been the subject of a legal battle over the housing of asylum seekers.
Ms Phillipson said she understands people’s frustration at the use of hotels, but the Government has to phase out their use in an “orderly” manner.
She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “I understand the frustration that people feel, because I understand when they see, for example, asylum hotels and big numbers of people in their community, I understand how that can make people feel.
“Of course, there can be no excuse for what is rightful protest, overstepping the mark.
“But Nigel Farage and Reform, they don’t actually want to sort this problem. It’s in their interests… he thinks their political interests are served by whipping up anger rather than fixing problems.”
An interim injunction which would have required the asylum seekers to leave the Bell Hotel was overturned after the Government won an appeal, but critics accused the Home Office of putting the rights of migrants over local people.
Ms Phillipson said: “It is about a balance of rights. When people come to this country and claim asylum, we have a responsibility as a Government to assess their cases and to process them.”
But she said “our responsibility to those who live locally is also important as well”.
Appearing after Ms Phillipson on the Sky News programme, Mr Tice was asked if he could be clear there has been “no encouragement” from the party to “the sort of person who wants to break into asylum hotels in masks and to intimidate asylum seekers”.
Mr Tice said it was an “outrageous suggestion”, adding: “Of course we’re not suggesting that.
“We’ve always suggested lawful, peaceful protest, nothing else.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed Ms Phillipson’s comments show “exactly what Labour is thinking – that the ‘rights’ of illegal immigrants trump those of local residents”.
He added: “The truth is that Labour are making a choice – a choice to keep hotels open and a choice to place the interests of illegal immigrants above local residents.”
The number of asylum hotels has been brought down from about 400 at its peak under the previous government to about 200 now, although much of that reduction took place under the Conservatives.
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