Anger at Tory 'incompetence' as asylum backlog hits record 160,000

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that 160,919 people were awaiting a first decision on their asylum claim at the end of December, a 60% increase from a year ago

Interior Minister Suella Braverman is under increasing pressure to get the asylum system under control (

Image: PA)

The Conservative government has been accused of a 'shameful level of incompetence' as alarming new data has shown the UK asylum backlog has reached a record 160,000.

Despite intense pressure to bring the situation under control, the Home Office decided less than 1% of applications from people who arrived on small boats last year.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that 160,919 people were awaiting an initial decision on their claim at the end of December, a 60% increase on the previous year.

Of these, more than 109,000 had waited longer than six months, an astonishing increase of 77%.

Due to the backlog, thousands of asylum seekers languish in hotels waiting for their cases to be resolved.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Despite all the big promises from Rishi Sunak, less than 1% of small boat cases last year were resolved. truly shameful levels of incompetence from a government that has completely lost its grip.< /p>

Only 1% of asylum claims from people arriving by small boat were processed last year (

Picture:

Getty Images)

"After 13 years of failure, today's numbers underscore the shocking mess the Tories have made of the asylum system.

“The Home Office still makes a third fewer decisions each year than it did seven years ago and it has let the backlog grow by 60% to a record 160,000, with the taxpayer bearing the brunt cost by spending in hotels. ."

Ms Cooper added, "Rishi Sunak needs to stop pretending and start mastering the basics."

Officials granted refugee status to humanitarian protection or other forms of leave in 76% of initial decisions.

There were 18,699 initial decisions on asylum applications last year, up 29% from 14,532 in 2021, but 10% below the 20,766 in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.