Tories claimed to have cleared asylum backlog? So how come 100k are still awaiting decision?

Cleverly roasted over brag

- DAVE BURKE

NEARLY 100,000 asylum seekers are still waiting for an initial decision despite Tory brags about clearing the backlog, figures show.

Home Secretary James Cleverly boasted that the Government had delivered on its promise to clear all applications made before June 2022 by the end of the year.

But Home Office data released yesterday shows the UK's backlog stood at 98,599 at the end of 2023 - 16 times what it was when the Tories took power.

The discrepancy is because, although most of the 100,548 who were waiting in June 2022 had been dealt with, another 94,062 asylum seekers who arrived since then are still waiting for their initial decision.