When the new government came into power following the general election, they inherited an asylum system in ‘meltdown’. The Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Rwanda Plan had brought the system to a near-standstill, as the number of people waiting for an initial decision began to rise.
Now, there a fresh calls from the Refugee Council for an immediate repeal of the Illegal Migration Act – to prevent figures reaching record highs in January 2025.
The Refugee Council has stated that without intervention, figures are projected to reach record levels in January 2025 – with 177,063 people awaiting an initial decision.
According to the Refugee Council, removing the blockages created by the Illegal Migration Act 2023, would result in an estimated 59,000 fewer people waiting for a decision by the end of January 2025 – compared to if no action had been taken. Ultimately, creating a saving between £151 million and £240.7 million.
The Council has presented key recommendations for the next steps the new government should take to ensure the asylum system is fair and effective and to make it safer for people to seek protection in the UK.
Key recommendations for government – spanning asylum policy include:
- For an immediate repeal of the Illegal Migrant Act and the Safety of Rwanda Act
- Introducing a clear and transparent plan for how the backlog of asylum claims will be processed and prioritised
- Moving away from the current system of private accommodation contracts and instead empowering local councils to provide value for money housing
- Extending the move-on period from 28 days to 56 days after someone receives a positive decision on their asylum claim
- Putting in place a team within the Home Office to review all asylum refusals that have been appealed to ensure the correct decision was made first time
- Limiting the conduct of age determinations to staff with relevant training
- Expanding safe routes, including by making a clear commitment on refugee resettlement
- Implementing a more effective voluntary returns programme.
As a result of the backlog clearance that took place under the previous government, between July 2023 and March 2024 there was a 253% increase in the number of refugee households facing homelessness after being evicted from Home Office accommodation following a positive asylum decision.
The Refugee Council stated: “There is no way for someone to apply for asylum without being physically present in the UK. While targeting the criminal gangs profiting from people putting their lives at risk to cross the Channel is a vital part of a strategy to reduce the crossings, it will never be enough.
“It needs to be done alongside ensuring there is a functioning domestic asylum system, serious and pragmatic international cooperation, and safe alternatives. The new government has made some promising starts on the first two of those, but so far have offered very little on safe alternatives.”
