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Rishi Sunak has promised more staff to help clear the UK’s backlog of asylum claims by the end of next year.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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But Downing Street later clarified the pledge was not to abolish the total backlog – only initial claims made up to the end of June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Under a plan unveiled by the prime minister, a dedicated unit of 400 specialists will be set up to handle claims from Albanians.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Refugee charities branded the plans “cruel” and “ineffective”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The asylum backlog has ballooned in recent years, with 117,000 outstanding claims, relating to 143,377 people, who are waiting for an initial decision on their application and unable to work. Of these, nearly 100,000 people have been waiting more than six months. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In the Commons, Mr Sunak said the government expected to “abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of next year”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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However, the prime minister’s official spokesman later clarified that this pledge only related to claims made before 28 June, when the Nationality and Borders Act came into force. He said this consists of 92,601 initial asylum claims.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Mr Sunak’s pledge was “already falling apart”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n- Asylum backlog is complex issue to resolve<\/li>\n
- Sunak’s migration plan raises big questions <\/li>\n
- Why are Albanian migrants coming to the UK?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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With pressure building on the Home Office to tackle the issue, Mr Sunak has labelled the small boats crisis a priority for his premiership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year – the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There has been a rapid increase in the number of Albanians crossing the Channel and this nationality now make up 35% of arrivals. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ministers have singled out Albanian migrants, accusing many of exploiting the system by pretending to be victims of modern slavery. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Under the government’s plans, asylum case workers will be given new guidance making it clear Albania is a safe country and requiring evidence of modern slavery when considering a claim.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As a result of the plans, Mr Sunak said the vast majority of claims from Albanians could be declared “clearly unfounded”, which would see “thousands” returned home in the coming months. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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UK border officials will also be posted at Albania’s main airport, under a new deal with the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n