LABOUR GOVERNMENT TO GRANT ASYLUM TO NEARLY 63,000 AWAITING DECISIONS

Thu 17 October 2024:

According to a Refugee Council analysis, nearly 63,000 asylum seekers are expected to be granted refuge under the Labour government. After scrapping the controversial Rwanda deportation plan, Labour has accelerated the processing of claims, addressing the UK’s substantial asylum backlog, which stood at 118,882 cases by June 2024.

The Refugee Council estimates that by early 2025, the backlog will reduce to 118,063, marking a significant improvement. Without the Labour government’s intervention, the backlog would have been 59,000 cases higher under the previous Conservative administration’s deportation plan. The charity anticipates that 62,801 asylum seekers will be granted asylum based on current rates.

While welcoming the progress, Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, highlighted that Labour still faces significant hurdles. “Labour has inherited an asylum system that was utterly broken. Decisive early action has been taken to stop the system from falling over, but a comprehensive reform is needed to create a fair, orderly, and humane asylum system,” Solomon stated.

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In line with its manifesto pledge, Labour has vowed to end the use of asylum hotels. While Downing Street reaffirmed this commitment, reports suggest the Home Office may reconsider reopening some hotels previously closed by the Conservatives. However, no official confirmation has been given on whether more hotels will be used or reopened.

Asylum seekers in the UK face numerous difficulties as they await decisions on their cases. Lengthy processing times are a major issue, with over 118,882 people in backlog by mid-2024. This delay leaves many in legal limbo, unable to work or access proper services.

Many are housed in temporary accommodations, such as overcrowded hotels, often for extended periods, which creates strain on both individuals and local communities. Mental health issues are also common, as asylum seekers face uncertainty, isolation, and trauma from their past experiences.

Furthermore, there is growing political pressure and debate over immigration policies, making it harder for those fleeing war and persecution to find safety and stability in the UK.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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