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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Kiran Stacey and Rajeev Syal

Reeves under scrutiny over claimed £1bn asylum saving given size of backlog

Wall of hotel graffitied 'Get out England'.
A Tamworth hotel housing asylum seekers was attacked and vandalised in August 2024. The chancellor has pledged to end the use of hotels for claimants. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Experts have questioned whether Rachel Reeves will be able to meet the spending promises she made on Wednesday, given how many of them require a sudden and unprecedented drop in the asylum backlog.

The chancellor said on Wednesday she would save £1bn by drastically reducing the number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their claims and ending the use of hotels to house them.

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