Migrants facing a backlog in the asylum system could potentially be housed in hotels for up to three more years, as reported by The Times newspaper. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and other ministers have come to the realization that clearing the backlog will be a lengthier process than initially anticipated since winning the election. The government had vowed to eliminate the backlog and put an end to the use of asylum hotels, but a Whitehall source disclosed to The Times that the situation is “much worse than we thought.”
The source cited, “It’s going to take a lot longer to clear than we anticipated. It certainly won’t be cleared in a year.” A Labour source highlighted, “We have inherited a completely failed immigration system from the Tories, including them spending over £700 million on Rwanda, and failed gimmicks. We’re working on clearing the backlog they left behind, as they clearly did nothing at all in the months leading up to the election. The numbers speak for themselves.”
Official figures from the Home Office revealed that by the end of June 2024, 118,882 individuals were awaiting an initial decision on their asylum applications in the UK. This number represented a 32% decrease from the 175,457 cases recorded in June 2023, which was the highest figure since records began in 2010. However, the latest total slightly increased from 118,329 cases awaiting processing by the end of March this year, indicating a rise in the last quarter of the 12-month period.
Earlier this month, Home Secretary Ms. Cooper indicated progress in addressing the asylum backlog and facilitating the return of individuals with no right to remain in the UK, aiming to bring an end to the costly asylum hotels. The Labour manifesto outlined plans to restore order to the asylum system, expedite operations, and hire additional caseworkers to clear the Conservative government’s backlog and abolish the reliance on asylum hotels, saving taxpayers significant costs.
The ongoing challenges with the asylum system and the potential long-term housing of migrants in hotels emphasise the complexities and delays in resolving the backlog. As the government works to address these issues, the focus remains on streamlining processes and providing timely and fair outcomes for those seeking asylum in the UK.