The United Kingdom is experiencing a record high in its asylum appeal backlog, with figures showing over 123,000 cases awaiting resolution. This surge in appeals has offset government efforts to reduce the number of outstanding initial asylum decisions.
As of the end of March, the number of appeals reached 123,194. This is an increase from the 119,066 total cases pending in June 2024. While the overall backlog has seen fluctuations, it remains higher than the figure from June 2024, though it has fallen from a peak of 141,647 in June 2023.
The government has reported success in clearing initial asylum claims, stating that the number of people awaiting a first decision has fallen by 72% since June 2023. At the end of March, there were 35,744 such cases, a substantial decrease from 85,839 prior to June 2024.
However, experts suggest this progress represents a shift in the backlog rather than a complete resolution. Peter Walsh from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford explained that the government's faster processing of initial claims has led to a lower grant rate. This, in turn, results in more refusals that attract the right of appeal, thereby increasing the appeals backlog.
The Home Office stated that reforms are underway to expedite the appeals process and to prevent individuals without a right to remain in the country from delaying their removal. The department emphasized the progress made in tackling the initial decision backlog.