Deportations from UK at record low as asylum applications soar

Critics says statistics undermine Priti Patel's claim that she is getting grip on immigration and asylum system

The number of people being deported from the UK is at a record low while asylum applications have soared over the last year, according to Home Office data.

Government statistics, which have measured irregular migration for the first time, also confirmed that 28,526 people arrived on small boats in 2021 - slightly higher than previous reports and a huge jump from the 8,466 who came in 2020.