The UK has witnessed a dramatic rise in asylum claims, hitting a record high of over 108,000 last year.
This surge, the largest since records began in 1979, raises pressing questions about immigration policies and border control.
The most significant increase occurred in the second half of the year, with over 61,000 claims filed after the general election—an 18% rise from the previous year.
Policy Shifts and Their Impact
One of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s earliest decisions was to scrap the controversial Rwanda asylum deal.
Originally introduced by the Conservative government, this policy aimed to deter small-boat crossings across the Channel.
With its removal, concerns have grown over the government’s ability to manage irregular migration effectively.
According to newly released Home Office data, 43,630 irregular migrants were detected by authorities in 2024, with 36,816 arriving via small boats—a 19% increase from 2023.
However, asylum seekers are not just new arrivals; many foreign nationals who have lived in Britain for years also apply for asylum.
Asylum Processing and Backlog
Despite the surge in applications, the number of granted asylum claims dropped by 37%, falling to just under 40,000.
This decline was largely due to the previous Conservative government halting case processing in the spring of 2024.
When Labour’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reversed this decision in July, case processing resumed, reducing the backlog slightly.
By the end of December, there were still 90,686 pending asylum cases involving 124,802 individuals, a modest 5% decrease from the previous year.
Work Visas and Legal Migration Trends
While asylum claims soared, the number of work visas issued dropped significantly.
Thanks to changes introduced by the Conservatives at the beginning of 2024, work visa approvals fell by 37% to 210,000.
New restrictions included higher salary thresholds and a ban on many migrants bringing their families.
However, despite fewer new work visas, there has been a massive spike in visa extensions.
A staggering 417,000 foreign workers renewed their right to stay in the UK—seven times higher than in 2019.
Student visas also took a hit, falling 14% to 393,000, whereas family visas increased by 7% to 86,000, mainly due to refugees bringing relatives to the UK.
Settlement and Citizenship on the Rise
The number of foreign nationals granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK rose by 35% to 162,000 in 2024—the highest in 13 years.
While this figure is still below the peak of 241,000 in 2010, the rise has sparked debate about immigration control.
Among the total, settlement grants for former refugees increased by more than a third to 40,278.
A sharp rise in British citizenship applications was also noted, with 270,000 people naturalizing in 2024—the highest since records began.
This is a dramatic increase from 2020 when just 131,000 were granted citizenship.
Notably, 209,000 of those receiving citizenship were from outside the EU, while 61,000 were originally from EU countries.
Political Reactions and Future Measures
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized Labour’s handling of the crisis, arguing that their approach has incentivized illegal migration and failed to establish effective deterrents.
Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, echoed these concerns, calling for stricter border controls and a focus on prioritizing opportunities for UK citizens.
Meanwhile, Downing Street defended its approach, blaming the previous Conservative government for an immigration system that allowed legal migration to skyrocket while failing to curb illegal crossings.
A No. 10 spokesperson highlighted new measures, including the creation of the Border Security Command, an increase in deportation figures, and tougher laws targeting smuggling gangs.
What’s Next?
With immigration and asylum policies in the spotlight, the UK government faces mounting pressure to balance humanitarian responsibilities with national security and economic considerations.
Whether the newly implemented policies will make a lasting impact remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—migration will remain a central issue in British politics for the foreseeable future.