It would take 44,000 years to clear the asylum court backlog accumulated since Labour took office, according to a new analysis. The figure is based on processing all 38,866 asylum cases lodged since the government entered office, if handled consecutively. The calculation highlights severe delays in the system, with the average wait for a judgment stretching to 14 months over the past two years.
Appeals Surge by 70 Percent
The backlog calculation excludes a further 87,000 appeals lodged by April to overturn failed claims, representing a 70 percent rise on the previous year. Operating the immigration and asylum appeals service already costs taxpayers £80 million annually. London’s Taylor House court faces a 10,888-year backlog, while Manchester Piccadilly stands at 7,412 years, marking them among the least efficient venues in the country.
Government Response and Criticism
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to replace asylum judges with an independent appeals body in a bid to overhaul the system. However, critics say mounting delays continue to tie up courts and drain public resources. Tory MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke told The Sun: “This is a totally inefficient system. Until we get out of the European Convention on Human Rights we won’t be able to change it. It’s bad enough Labour’s taking us back to the 70s — but the ice age is another level. It’s a bad use of taxpayers’ cash. The reason we’ve so many activist lawyers is they know backlogs give years of work.”
A Government spokeswoman said: “We do not recognise this interpretation of the figures. This government has made significant progress tackling the asylum backlog, slashing the number of people waiting for an initial decision by 72 percent, from its peak of 175,000 under the last government.” She added: “We must go further and faster. That’s why the Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping immigration reforms in modern times, designed to speed up the appeals process and ensure those with no right to be here cannot delay their removal.”
Impact and Future Challenges
The figures expose significant challenges for Labour in managing the asylum system, despite manifesto pledges to reduce backlogs. Repeated legal challenges are prolonging individual cases, adding to the financial burden on taxpayers and fuelling criticism of the government’s delivery on immigration controls. With appeals surging and processing times extended, ministers face pressure to deliver meaningful reform. The vast accumulated delays since Labour entered government have prompted fresh questions about the effectiveness of current measures and the system’s capacity to cope.
