The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has halved in just a year, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood declared the Government is "restoring control".
Hard numbers show grip being restored
Labour inherited an asylum system in disarray: hotels overflowing, claims taking too long, removals too low and public confidence badly damaged. Two years on, there are finally hard numbers showing that grip is being restored. The number of asylum seekers in hotels has halved in a year, the backlog has been slashed from its peak, asylum claims are down by a fifth, and removals are rising. Small boat arrivals are also now falling compared with last year.
That matters because Labour promised competence after years of Conservative failure and, on one of the toughest issues facing any government, there are signs it is delivering.
More to do before the next election
Of course, there is far more to do. The Channel crossings remain too high, and ministers cannot ease off. Immigration could well become the single issue that decides the next General Election, but these figures should give Labour confidence. If ministers keep driving the numbers down, they can show voters something their opponents offer mostly in slogans: evidence that firm, practical government can work.
