The number of asylum appeals waiting to be processed in the UK has skyrocketed, according to official statistics. There has been a staggering 485% increase in the backlog of appeals over the past two years, leaving nearly 42,000 asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be heard.
These individuals had their initial asylum claims rejected and are now appealing the decisions. In just the last three months, 12,183 new appeals were filed, adding to the growing pressure on the system. This surge comes after the Labour Government took steps to restart asylum decision-making when they came into power.
The Refugee Council has pointed out that this backlog is a result of the near-collapse of the asylum decision-making process under the previous government. They claim that the focus on the Rwanda deportation scheme led to a breakdown in processing asylum claims efficiently. The council also highlighted that the Home Office was accommodating 38,079 people in hotels at the end of 2024. If this trend continues through 2025, the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels could reach nearly £1.5 billion.
The increase in rejected asylum claims is partly due to stricter legislation introduced by the previous government, making it harder for refugees to have their claims accepted. For example, there has been a sharp decline in the number of successful asylum claims from Afghans. While the Home Office previously accepted almost all Afghan claims, by the end of 2024, only four out of ten claims were granted.
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, commented on the situation, saying, “We welcome the Government’s efforts to fix the broken asylum system, but more needs to be done to ensure decisions are made correctly the first time. This will prevent a new backlog from forming elsewhere in the system. Resolving cases properly will reduce costs and help people move on with their lives instead of being stuck in limbo, unable to work or contribute to society. It’s also important that those who don’t have the right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect.”
A Government spokesperson responded, “The asylum system we inherited was not fit for purpose, which is why we are taking urgent action to restart asylum processing and clear the backlog. This will save taxpayers an estimated £4 billion over the next two years.”
Meanwhile, the Government is also considering stricter measures regarding the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), particularly Article 8, which guarantees the right to family life. This article has been used in several cases to prevent the deportation of illegal migrants, including foreign criminals. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is reviewing how Article 8 is being applied in immigration courts to ensure the law is interpreted in a “sensible” way.
The growing backlog of asylum appeals and the rising costs of housing asylum seekers highlight the ongoing challenges in the UK’s immigration system. As the Government works to address these issues, the focus remains on balancing efficiency, fairness, and cost-effectiveness.
