Asylum rules eased to help Rishi clear huge backlog

MINISTERS yesterday resorted to desperate measures to clear the asylum backlog.

Restrictions on asylum seekers introduced only last year were dropped, meaning thousands of successful claimants will be granted extra rights to stay in Britain.

And in another controversial move, the number of asylum seekers – including small-boat migrants – allowed to join a fast-track scheme will double to 24,000.

The scheme was dubbed an ‘asylum amnesty in all but name’ when it was launched in February.

It comes after figures showed the asylum backlog jumped to nearly

‘Amnesty in all but name’

173,000 by the end of March from fewer than 115,000 claims a year earlier.

Rishi Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 ‘legacy’ applications lodged before last July would be ‘abolished’ by the end of this year.

However, the figures published two weeks ago showed there were still 78,954 legacy cases in the system.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said he was ditching the ‘twotier’ asylum system introduced by former home secretary Priti Patel.

Under legislation overseen by Ms Patel, migrants who arrived by irregular routes – such as by small boat – were given the right to stay in Britain only temporarily if they were found to have a legitimate case.

Those who came by approved routes were handed permission to stay here for five years, leading to the ability to stay indefinitely.

Mr Jenrick announced he will ‘pause’ the measures – meaning all asylum seekers will be eligible for the more generous offer.

The minister also broadened the scope of the fast-track scheme, which had applied to some 12,000 Libyans, Syrians, Afghans, eritreans and Yemenis.

The cut- off date for the scheme will be extended from June last year to March this year and Sudanese nationals will also be included.

A senior Tory source said: ‘This is just about breaking the backlog and meeting Rishi’s target.’