UK Government Claims Asylum Backlog Cleared Amid Rising New Cases

Critics accuse the government of manipulating figures as nearly 100,000 people still await asylum decisions.

The UK Home Office claims to have cleared the 'legacy backlog' of asylum cases, but data shows a new backlog of recent cases is growing.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in December 2022 to abolish the legacy backlog of asylum applications made before 28 June 2022. The latest data shows these applications have decreased by 95%, but the flow backlog - applications made since 28 June 2022 - has increased significantly.
Home Secretary James Cleverly insists that all cases have been reviewed and the remaining ones simply 'require additional work'. Critics accuse the government of manipulating the figures to meet its pledge.
Data also shows an increase in withdrawn and void applications, which some experts suggest is a result of the government manipulating figures.
Despite the government's claims, nearly 100,000 people are still waiting for a decision on their asylum applications.