Sixfold rise in asylum seekers caught in appeal hearings backlog

The number of asylum seekers left in limbo while they appeal against a rejected asylum application has risen almost sixfold over two years, putting renewed pressure on the taxpayer, according to analysis by the Refugee Council charity.

- Rajeev Sval

Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show that at the end of 2024 there were 41,987 asylum appeals in the tribunal courts' backlog, up from 7,133 at the start of 2023.

In the last three months of 2024, 12,183 appeals were lodged after the new government took steps to restart asylum decision-making. Parts of the 2023 Illegal Migration Act had in effect frozen asylum applications from anyone who had arrived into the UK by an irregular route.

The total number of appeals against asylum decisions at the firsttier tribunal in 2024 increased by 71% year on year. A rise in asylum refusals over the same period meant the rate of successful applications fell to 47%.