The latest official statistics show a fivefold increase in the number of asylum claims waiting for an appeal hearing. Statistics from the Ministry of Justice indicate that at the end of 2024 there were 41,987 asylum appeals in the court’s backlog, up from 7,173 at the start of 2023, a 34,814 (485 per cent) rise in the number of asylum appeals waiting to be processed in the courts over the last two years.

In the last three months of 2024, figures show there were 12,183 appeals lodged by people who had their asylum claims rejected following steps taken by the new government to restart asylum decision making when they arrived in office. The total number of asylum application appeals that were lodged in 2024 has increased by 71 per cent year-on- year.

The Refugee Council calls on the UK government to:

• Review all appeals within the Home Office so that errors can be corrected without the need for the tribunal to process the appeal.
• Revert to the previous standard of proof for asylum claims that was in place prior to the enactment of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
• Where there are clear barriers to being able to remove someone, the government should also consider granting temporary leave so that people can support themselves.
  Restart decision making on Syrian asylum claims.
• Commit to ending the use of hotels by the end of 2025 and trigger the break clause in the asylum accommodation contracts next year moving to delivery by local authorities.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “We welcome the government’s continued attempt to remedy a broken asylum system, but more needs to be done to ensure right first-time decision making, so a new growing backlog is not created in a different part of the system.

“Resolving asylum cases well will help reduce costs, and the number of people trapped in limbo, stuck in hotels unable to work or move on with their lives. The use of hotels in communities across the country has become a damaging symbol of government failure and a flashpoint for community tensions. For too long billions of pounds have been wasted on appallingly run contracts with private companies that cream off vast profits. There needs to be a clear plan to stopping the use of hotels by the end of this year and to reform the asylum accommodation system so local authorities can house people in communities with the support they need.

“Right first time decision making will ensure refugees are given safety to go on to contribute to communities across the country and those who don’t have a right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect.”