Sunak Declares Asylum Backlog Is Cleared as Labour Disputes the Claim

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “abolish” legacy asylum backlog by 2023 has been delivered, the Home Office said, while Labour accused the government of “cooking the books.” In a statement published on Tuesday, the Home Office said Mr. Sunak’s “commitment of clearing the legacy asylum backlog has been delivered.” The press release said officials have processed more than 112,000 asylum cases in 2023—and the highest annual number of substantive decisions in a year since 2002—thanks to “increased efficiency.” The prime minister claimed the government is “saving the taxpayer millions of pounds in expensive hotel costs, reducing strain on public services, and ensuring the most vulnerable receive the right support” by clearing the backlog....