Since Rishi Sunak announced his plan to reduce the number of unprocessed asylum claims, the backlog has swelled. Some 166,000 people are now waiting for a decision on their case. Political pressure is mounting on the government. The doubling of “migrant hunts” targeting hotels housing asylum seekers – such as the recent protests organised by far-right groups in Knowsley – only adds to the urgency of this situation.
The Home Office will now allow 12,000 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen to complete a questionnaire in place of an interview. In principle, this makes sense: the UN refugee agency has called for a “triaged” approach, and those who will probably be granted refugee status should be fast-tracked. But the form is wickedly complex, with more than 50 questions that must be answered in English. Asylum seekers will have only 20 days to complete it – hardly enough time to access scarce legal advice. If they fail to do so, their application may be withdrawn, meaning at best that they have to reapply and at worst that they are at risk of return.
