RACHEL Reeves has vowed to end the use of costly asylum seeker hotels – in a move that could save taxpayers £1bn a year.
Setting out her spending review, the Chancellor also promised a £11bn boost for the UK’s defence.
Ms Reeves pledged to cut the asylum backlog, hear more appeal cases and return people who have no right to be in the country.
Speaking in Parliament today, she said: “So I can confirm today... that led by the work of RHF the Home Secretary... we will be ending the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers, in this Parliament.
“Funding that I have provided today... including from the Transformation Fund... will cut the asylum backlog; hear more appeal cases; and return people who have no right to be here... ... saving the taxpayer £1bn per year.
“That is my choice, Mr Speaker. That is Labour’s choice. And that is the choice of the British people.”;
It came as she unleashed a £100million spending spree to tackle illegal migration – including deploying more border cops and drones.
The Chancellor set out her spending plans for the coming years with big increases for the NHS, defence and .
And she threw more than half a billion pounds at fixing Britain’s broken borders.
The cash boost comes on top of the £4million being spent every day on accommodation for those crossing the Channel in small boats.
The Chancellor and Home Secretary last night put on a united front after days of fraught negotiations over today’s Spending Review – insisting border security is a priority.
The new funding is part of a £113billion spending spurge by the Chancellor as she seeks to get back on the front foot after a painful 48 hours.
She is reeling from a humiliating u-turn on winter fuel payments and dire figures showing rising unemployment.
Yesterday she was forced to admit that Brits were not feeling any better 11 months on from the election.
But Ms Reeves last night refused calls to apologise for her handling of the finances.
Weeks of haggling have seen Ms Reeves lock horns with Cabinet colleagues over how much of the pie they will get.
The Sun understands that Home Secretary Ms Cooper – who was the last to fold in tense negotiations – has secured an immediate £100million to combat illegal migration this year.
She will also get £580million across the next three years for Border Security Command to invest in new specialist cops and surveillance to thwart Channel crossings.
Burying the hatchet in a joint piece for The Sun, Ms Reeves and Ms Cooper write: “Our Spending Review is about in Britain’s renewal.
“It’s about protecting our security and strengthening our borders.”;
Labour is under pressure over the record rate of Channel crossings that is around 15,000 already for the year.
We also revealed this week that the is being funded by the equivalent of 582,000 taxpayers.
