Labour has been accused of breaking a key election promise after official figures revealed a significant reduction in the number of staff processing asylum claims, despite a manifesto pledge to hire more.
Manifesto Promise vs. Reality
Home Office data shows there are currently 2,113 caseworkers employed to interview asylum seekers and evaluate their claims. This represents a notable decrease from the 2,464 staff in post during the final month of the Conservative government.
The drop contradicts Labour's explicit manifesto commitment to "hire additional caseworkers to clear the Conservatives' backlog and end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds." The party had vowed to "restore order to the asylum system" by boosting resources.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Mail: 'Despite promising extra asylum caseworkers in their manifesto, the stats show there has been a fall in the number of caseworkers under Labour. This is just another broken promise from this weak Labour government.'
Efficiency Gains and a Shifting Backlog
Despite the 13% reduction in headcount since taking office, the Home Office claims processing has become more efficient. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently stated the backlog of asylum seekers awaiting an initial decision is 18% lower than when Labour entered government.
However, this progress only tells part of the story. While the initial decision backlog has shrunk, the number of cases has surged in the immigration courts. Figures show the backlog in the First-tier Tribunal has soared by 104% to 69,670 by the end of September, up from 34,234 a year earlier.
New appeals submitted to the court rose by a staggering 240% in the quarter from June to September compared to the same period last year. Approximately seven out of ten asylum seekers reject decisions and launch legal challenges.
Broader Context of Broken Pledges and Rising Costs
This is not the first manifesto pledge Labour has been accused of breaking since the election. The government recently faced criticism over a 'stealth raid' on taxpayers by freezing income tax thresholds and over significant increases to business rates.
The asylum system's cost remains a heavy burden. In 2023, the Home Office spent around £5.4 billion on asylum support, more than double the 2021 figure. This includes housing approximately 100,000 asylum seekers in hotels and other accommodation, with hotel costs averaging £145 per night.
William Yarwood of the TaxPayers' Alliance commented: 'It’s welcome to see the Home Office cutting headcount and finding efficiencies... But any progress risks being wiped out if Channel crossings continue to rise month after month.'
In response to the crisis, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to scrap the existing asylum appeals tribunal and replace it with a new Home Office-controlled body. However, this legislative overhaul is likely to face strong opposition and may not be implemented until late 2025 at the earliest.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Asylum decisions have reached a record high under this government, rising by 31 per cent this year meaning the number of people awaiting an initial decision is now more than 50 per cent lower than the peak in June 2023.'
