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The backlog of asylum appeals in the UK has surged to an unprecedented level, nearly doubling within the span of a year, according to newly released data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). At the end of 2025, there were 80,333 appeals awaiting hearings, a significant increase from 41,987 appeals recorded the previous year. The average wait time for an asylum appeal extended to 63 weeks, up from 48 weeks in 2024.
This increase comes during Labour’s first full year in government and poses a challenge to one of the party’s central promises—to restore order to the asylum system and eliminate reliance on hotels for temporary housing. Currently, thousands of asylum seekers remain in interim accommodations, including hotels, as they await decisions on their cases. Official figures from the Home Office show that by the end of December, 30,657 individuals seeking asylum were living in hotel accommodations during this waiting period.
Experts have raised concerns that the growing number of appeals could hinder the government’s ability to fulfill its pledge to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this parliamentary term in 2029. Since an asylum appeal may pertain to multiple people, The Refugee Council estimates that the outstanding 80,333 appeals correspond to more than 100,000 people after accounting for family members. Imran Hussain, Director of Affairs at the Refugee Council, told PA news agency that delays are resulting in many asylum seekers being “stuck” in accommodation for extended periods, unable to work or rebuild their lives, imposing significant costs on public resources.
These most recent MoJ statistics were published shortly after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a new trial initiative offering up to £40,000 to families of unsuccessful asylum seekers who agree to leave the UK. Mahmood described her approach as “compassionate but controlled” during a speech last week. Additional data released near the end of last year revealed that, for the first time on record, the backlog of asylum appeals exceeded the number of cases awaiting initial decisions. In the year leading up to December, 100,625 people applied for asylum, with 41% arriving via small boats, according to Home Office figures issued in February. The MoJ was contacted for comment following the release of these figures
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