Asylum seekers and refugees

Fact checks about refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

6 June 2023

The total asylum initial decision backlog has increased since December

The home secretary’s claim that the backlog is down by 17,000 refers only to applications made before 28 June 2022.

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The total asylum initial decision backlog has increased since December
17 May 2023

How many refugees does the UK resettle compared to other European countries?

Robert Jenrick said that the UK is second only to Sweden in the number of refugees accepted through resettlement schemes. This is true of European countries but doesn’t tell the …

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How many refugees does the UK resettle compared to other European countries?
10 May 2023

You can’t apply for asylum in the UK through the UNHCR

The UN’s refugee agency has clarified that there is no way for people to apply for asylum in the UK through the agency, after comments made by the Home Secretary.

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You can’t apply for asylum in the UK through the UNHCR
23 March 2023

Labour MP wrong to say ‘there are no safe routes’ to enter UK

Khalid Mahmood wrongly claimed in Parliament that routes for people from Hong Kong and Afghanistan have been closed.

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Labour MP wrong to say ‘there are no safe routes’ to enter UK
14 March 2023

The asylum backlog is far higher now than when Labour left government

The home secretary told Parliament the current backlog bears “no comparison” to the situation in 2010, and that Labour would be “found wanting” in any comparison.

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The asylum backlog is far higher now than when Labour left government
10 March 2023

No evidence to support Rishi Sunak’s asylum backlog claim

The Prime Minister said there were 6,000 fewer people in the “asylum backlog”—but the latest published figures show a large rise in the number of people waiting for applications to …

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No evidence to support Rishi Sunak’s asylum backlog claim
9 March 2023

‘Illegal immigrants’ are not entitled to more benefits than pensioners

False information comparing benefits and other financial support has been circulating for more than a decade.

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‘Illegal immigrants’ are not entitled to more benefits than pensioners
8 March 2023

Who are the 100 million displaced people Suella Braverman said could qualify for UK protection?

We’ve looked into the figures after the Home Secretary claimed 100 million people could be eligible for protection under current UK laws.

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Who are the 100 million displaced people Suella Braverman said could qualify for UK protection?
6 February 2023

£7 million daily cost of hotel accommodation includes cost of housing Afghan refugees

Articles in the Daily Express and Daily Mail wrongly claimed that almost £7 million a day is being spent on hotels for people who either arrived in the UK illegally …

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£7 million daily cost of hotel accommodation includes cost of housing Afghan refugees
1 February 2023

UKIP wrong that half of unaccompanied children seeking asylum are found to be adults

Figures mentioned by the UKIP deputy leader on GB News likely refer to the proportion of age dispute cases where the applicant is found to be an adult, not the …

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UKIP wrong that half of unaccompanied children seeking asylum are found to be adults

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