UK ministers urged to extend hotel eviction deadline for Afghans

Exclusive: Councils say plan is a ‘kick in the teeth’ and risks leaving people homeless and traumatised

Councils have urged ministers to extend a deadline for Afghan nationals who worked with the UK military and embassy to be evicted from hotels, saying the plan is chaotic and full of gaps and risks leaving many people homeless and traumatised.

A series of senior councillors told the Guardian that Johnny Mercer, the veterans’ minister, was met with near-unanimous opposition when he outlined the plan to local authorities in a conference call on Thursday.