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Almost 63,000 asylum seekers whose cases were held by Tory government could be given permission to remain by Labour_Nhy

tran nhi October 17, 2024

Almost 63,000 asylum seekers whose cases were placed on hold by the Tories could be granted permission to stay in Britain under Labour.

A report by the Refugee Council predicts a significant increase in granted claims thanks to changes brought in by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Of 118,882 asylum seekers who were waiting for a Home Office decision at the general election, 62,801 are likely to secure refugee status here based on current rates, the report said.

Many of those granted asylum will be able to remain here indefinitely.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has described Labour’s policy changes as an ‘effective amnesty’.

Almost 63,000 asylum seekers whose cases were placed on hold by the Tories could be granted permission to stay in Britain under Labour

Of 118,882 asylum seekers who were waiting for a Home Office decision at the general election, 62,801 are likely to secure refugee status here based on current rates. Pictured: The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset

It comes after, in December 2022, then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tasked the Home Office with tackling more than 92,000 ‘legacy’ asylum cases.

But in the months leading up to the election there was a slump in the rate at which the Home Office was processing asylum claims, the Refugee Council report said.

However, just 18 days after the general election in July, Ms Cooper scrapped key elements of immigration laws introduced by the Conservatives.

Many who may have faced removal to Rwanda under the Tories’ now abandoned asylum deal – and others whose cases were in limbo – now have the chance to win refugee status and stay in Britain.

The report called for the ‘complete repeal’ of the Tories’ Illegal Migration Act 2023 and Safety of Rwanda Act 2024.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘This government took quick action to restore order to the asylum system that we inherited by restarting asylum processing to clear the backlog.

‘This is happening as we continue to remove more people with no right to be here – with over 3,000 people returned since we formed government – while also driving down the costs of asylum accommodation to save money for the taxpayer.’