New statistics call into question Sunak’s claim of clearing asylum backlog

Thousands of cases refused in clearing exercise have surfaced in appeals process, with 10,000 lodged in first three months of year

Rishi Sunak's claims to have cleared the asylum backlog by the end of 2023 have been called into question, as data shows appeals against Home Office refusals of asylum claims have increased by more than 300% in the first three months of this year.

In the latest quarterly statistics for tribunals for the period January to March, published by the Ministry of Justice, the number of asylum and protection appeals lodged was 10,000 - an increase of 330%.