Rishi Sunak tells MPs he will clear asylum backlog by end of 2023

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Rishi Sunak has promised to end a backlog of nearly 100,000 asylum claims by the end of next year as part of an ambitious set of policies to overhaul the UK’s immigration system.

The prime minister outlined a five-point plan in the Commons including law changes to criminalise and then remove tens of thousands of people who claim asylum after travelling to the UK by small boat, and a deal with Albania to aid removals to the Balkan state.

But the plan, the details of which have not been released, was criticised by some Conservative MPs including Theresa May, who said that one announcement – a promise to overhaul modern slavery laws – might undermine protections for victims.

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said Sunak was indulging in more “unworkable gimmicks” as promised by other Conservative prime ministers. A majority of those who arrive by small boat qualify as legitimate refugees fleeing wars and famine, charities said.

The asylum backlog has ballooned, with 143,377 awaiting an initial decision on their application and unable to work. Downing Street insisted that the pledge related to 92,601 claims made before the Nationality and Borders Bill came into force in June. Sunak claimed that triple the number of asylum applications will be processed to clear asylum claims, with a doubling in caseworkers.

“We expect to abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of next year,” he said.

Addressing the Commons, the prime minister said the government pledged to unclog the asylum system.

“I said enough is enough, and I mean it. And that means I am prepared to do what must be done,” he said. “So early next year we will introduce new legislation to make unambiguously clear that if you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here.

“Instead you will be detained and swiftly returned, either to your home country, or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered. And you will no longer be able to frustrate removal attempts with late or spurious claims or appeals.

“And furthermore, if our reforms on Albania are challenged in the courts, we will also put them on a statutory footing to ensure the UK’s treatment of Albanian arrivals is no different to that of Germany or France,” he said, adding that a dedicated unit of 400 specialists will be set up to handle claims from Albanians.

Sunak also announced:

a small boats command, with an extra 700 staff from Border Force, National Crime Agency and other agencies, to combat people smugglers and the surge in arrivals across the Channel.

an end to the use of hotels for more than 40,000 asylum seekers. They will be sent to disused former military bases, holiday camps and student accommodation.

Sunak also claimed again that he would restart plans to deport people seeking refuge in the UK to Rwanda – a policy that is being challenged in the courts.

He also said “extra resources will free up immigration officers to go back to enforcement which will in turn allow us to increase raids on illegal working by 50%”.

May told the Commons that people smuggling and human trafficking were “distinct” and “separate crimes” and modern slavery was a “very real and current threat”.

“Contrary to what is said by some commentators, and sadly some members of this house, people smuggling and human trafficking are distinct and separate crimes and should not be treated or spoken of as one and that modern slavery is a very real and current threat with too many people brought to this country into slavery,” she said.

Starmer said: “Money is being wasted on the unworkable and unethical plan to deport people to Rwanda. The prime minister has promised more legislation but the last time the government legislated to tackle the broken asylum system they made it worse.”The government promised earlier this year to speed up the return of Albanians arriving on small boats. Of the 7,219 who had applied for asylum, only 50 had received a decision.

Ministers have also previously promised to speed up returns of asylum seekers to their countries of origin after their cases were processed, but they have so far returned about 800 failed asylum cases – down from 10,000 in 2010.

The number of people seeking asylum who arrive on small boats is expected to exceed 50,000 this year.

Charities last night condemned the proposals. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “The government has yet again shown it doesn’t have a workable or principled solution.

“It is simply wrong to say all those crossing the Channel do so without good cause. Home Office figures show that in fact the vast majority are desperate women, men and children doing everything they can to protect their families by fleeing war, conflict and persecution.

“Without safe routes, they have no choice but to take dangerous journeys. The prime minister failed to set out any concrete plans to expand these routes.”

Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of charity Refugee Action, criticised the government for failing to commit to creating safe routes for people seeking refuge. “Most of these changes are cruel, ineffective and unlawful and will do nothing to fix the real problems,” he said.