Asylum backlog down but migrant appeals at record high
The asylum backlog has fallen, but the appeals backlog has hit a record high, with 90,000 cases in the system.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New figures show the asylum backlog has fallen, but the number of appeals has reached a record high. The grant rate for asylum applications has dropped to 38%, down from 75% under the previous government. The appeals backlog now stands at 90,000 cases, more than 17 times the level at the start of the decade.
The government says it is clearing the backlog by processing applications faster. But critics argue that the appeals process is being exploited, with multiple avenues of appeal causing delays. Some say the legal blocks are the main obstacle to dealing with the migrant crisis, and call for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and reducing appeal routes.
Others argue that the backlog is a consequence of faster processing, and that appeals will also be processed faster. They say the right to appeal is a consequence of being refused asylum, and that decisions and appeals should be dealt with quickly. The debate also touches on the Rwanda plan, which was abandoned by the Labour government, and the idea of safe routes for asylum seekers.
The figures highlight a two-part problem: while the initial decision backlog is being reduced, the appeals system is becoming more congested. The panel discussion reflected a wider political divide over how to handle the legal challenges and the flow of migrants across the Channel.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Legal blocks are the main obstacle to dealing with the migrant crisis. | |
| The appeals backlog reached a record high of 90,000 cases, more than 17 times the level at the start of the decade. | |
| The asylum grant rate fell to 38% from 75% under the Conservatives. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on the failure to address the appeals backlog, framing it as a 'squeezing a balloon' problem. The panel, featuring a former Conservative Attorney General and a former political secretary to Tony Blair, debated the causes and solutions, with a critical tone towards Labour's approach and a strong emphasis on legal obstacles and the need to reduce appeal avenues.
- “It's like squeezing a balloon and the air goes from one part to the other part.”
- “The courts are clogged up because there's nothing for people to lose.”
- “We need to get rid of these avenues of appeal.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.