Backlog of Asylum Seekers' Decisions
- Almost all asylum seekers who arrived by boat last year are still waiting for decisions from the Home Office.
- Labour's Seema Malhotra criticizes the backlog, citing chaos in the immigration system.
- Former home secretary James Cleverly defends the government's approach, suggesting progress in handling asylum claims.
Recent figures from the Home Office reveal that nearly all small boat arrivals claiming asylum in the UK over the past year are still awaiting decisions. In the year ending June 2024, 99% of individuals arriving by small boats had their asylum claims recorded, either as main applicants or dependants. Immigration Minister Seema Malhotra criticized the previous Conservative government's handling of immigration, stating that their 14-year tenure has resulted in chaos and diminished public confidence in the system. Despite the high number of pending asylum claims, the Home Office reported a significant decrease in small boat crossings. In the 12 months leading to June 2024, 31,493 individuals arrived by small boats, a 29% reduction from the 44,460 recorded the previous year. Additionally, the total number of irregular arrivals fell by 26%, with 38,784 detected by June 2024. However, an analysis by Sky News indicates a rise in small boat crossings in 2023, with 19,294 crossings reported by August 21, compared to 18,618 during the same period in 2022. The Home Office also noted a decline in various visa categories, particularly Health and Care Worker visas, which saw a 26% drop to 89,095. Sponsored study visas decreased by 13%, while temporary worker visas increased by 3%. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly highlighted concerns over the misuse of Health and Care Worker visas, suggesting they were being exploited as a backdoor into the immigration system.