UK Asylum Backlog Hits Record High as Labour Faces Criticism for Lacking a Strategy Amidst System Crisis

THE UK’s asylum appeals backlog has soared to a new record high – as Labour is blasted for having “no strategy”.

Critics say the , with the number of claims now almost eight times the level it was a decade ago.

The UK’s asylum appeals backlog has soared to a new record high Credit: Getty Critics say the asylum system is ‘on the brink of collapse’ Credit: Getty

Data published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed there were 87,450 cases in the system at the end of March.

This is up 72 per cent from 50,976 last year – and more than seven times the 11,660 claims lodged in 2016, when current records began.

And it showed just over a third of appeals (40 per cent) were successful between January and March this year.

This is down from 43 per cent in the same period last year, while the waiting time to clear an asylum appeal has become longer.

The MoJ said the average time is now 67 weeks – up from 54 weeks in the same three-month period at the start of last year.

And the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) say the Home Office has focused on short-term fixes and does not have a clear strategy.

It has also called for a “complete overhaul” of the system for monitoring those facing removal.

The Refugee Council previously said many people face being “stuck” in and other asylum accommodation while they wait for a decision.

MoJ data shows there were 87,450 asylum cases in the system at the end of March Credit: Getty This is up 72 per cent from 50,976 in the same period last year Credit: Getty

But a report last June warned thousands of failed asylum seekers are living in Britain without the Home Office knowing where they are.

Officials admitted they only knew where the “vast majority” of failed applicants were and could not say for certain who had left the country.

It is despite the and spending almost £5billion on asylum in 2024.

Analysis of 5,000 asylum claims lodged in January 2023 found that 41 per cent were left unresolved years later.

Many had neither been granted asylum nor removed from Britain.

This week, it emerged criminals are offering a “backdoor” route into the UK on – costing £11,000 and including a flight from Italy.

Just one asylum seeker has been returned to Ireland since 2020 as crooks exploit (CTA), dubbed Britain’s “Achilles’ heel”.

The CTA means there are no checks between the Republic of Ireland and the North.

But it is also attracting the interest of Albanian people smuggling gangs, who are advertising it as an alternative to small boat Channel crossings.

Adverts promising successful passage into the UK are still being promoted on social media in the wake of Monday night’s horrific knife attack.

An asylum case can refer to just person or to a group of people – typically a main applicant and their family members.

Last year, the backlog of asylum appeals was, for the first time, higher than the backlog of cases waiting for an initial decision on an application.

Recent data shows the backlog for an initial decision on an application has dropped to its lowest level in more than six years.

Some 48,758 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application at the end of March 2026.

Labour pledged to stop using asylum hotels by the next election.

And the number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has fallen to its lowest level since 2022.

There were 20,885 people staying in accommodation while awaiting a decision on their asylum claims at the end of March.

This figure is down 35% year-on-year from 32,326 – and had climbed as high as 56,018 by the end of September 2023.