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Ministry of Justice data reveals that the backlog of asylum appeal cases has climbed to a new record level. By the end of March 2026, nearly 87,500 appeals had been filed challenging rejected asylum applications, marking a 70% increase compared to the previous year. This surge comes despite the government’s significant reduction in the number of outstanding cases awaiting an initial decision.
Although the government has successfully decreased the number of asylum cases pending a first decision—from 85,839 just prior to Labour’s assumption of office in June 2024 to 35,744 at the end of March 2026—the rising volume of appeals has outweighed this progress. As a result, the total backlog, which includes both pending initial decisions and unresolved appeals, has grown to 123,194 cases. This figure exceeds the 119,066 total cases reported when Labour took office but remains below the peak of 141,647 cases recorded in June 2023 during the previous Conservative government’s tenure.
Cabinet minister Hilary Benn emphasized to the BBC that the government has addressed the backlogs and is now processing asylum claims “much much quicker.” The Home Office pointed out that the number of people waiting for an initial decision has dropped by 72% since June 2023, underlining the progress made in handling these cases. Furthermore, the government is implementing reforms aimed at accelerating the appeals process and preventing individuals without legal rights from prolonging their stay through delays.
Experts note that while initial claim processing has accelerated, the increased refusal rates have contributed to more appeals being filed. Peter Walsh from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford remarked that the backlog is effectively shifting from one stage to another. He noted the financial implications involved, as asylum seekers are not permitted to work and rely on public support. Labour’s new appeals system, which plans to use independent adjudicators rather than judges, aims to increase the volume of appeals handled. Additionally, clarification around deportation statistics was made: while 67,188 removals were recorded between July 2024 and March 2026, only 16,476 were enforced deportations; the majority were voluntary departures, some occurring without official knowledge
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