The prime minister has made tackling illegal immigration and "restoring order" to the asylum system a priority for the government. Sir Keir Starmer has promised to "smash the gangs". It follows predecessor Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats". Yet small boat crossings have reached record levels for this point in the year. Ahead of the release of the latest official numbers on Thursday, BBC Verify looks at key government pledges - from ending the use of asylum hotels to returning more failed asylum seekers. Labour promised to "end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds" in its general election manifesto. The government wants to fulfil this pledge by the end of this Parliament - meaning by 2029, unless an early election is called. However, according to figures obtained by BBC Verify via a Freedom of Information request, the number of hotels used to house asylum seekers was higher in December than when Labour took office in July. In July, 212 hotels were in use. By December, there were 218 - accommodating about 38,000 people. Once someone applies for asylum, they gain legal protections while awaiting a decision - including accommodation if they cannot support themselves financially. Almost everyone who arrives by small boat claims asylum - they made up a third of all asylum applications last year. Another large group of claimants were people already in the UK who had overstayed their visas. The asylum process determines whether a person can remain in the UK because they have a "well-founded fear of persecution" in their home country. Since 2020, the government has been increasingly reliant on hotels, partly because the supply of other types of asylum accommodation has not kept up with the numbers arriving in small boats. But using asylum hotels is expensive -costing £8m per day in 2023-24. As of 14 May, 12,699 people had arrived in the UK in small boats - up by a third compared with this time last year. To reduce the number of crossings, the government has pledged to disrupt the people-smuggling gangs behind them. But it is unclear how the government plans to measure its progress, or when the goal will be met. The Home Office told us data on actions taken by officials to disrupt criminal gangs was "being collected and may be published in the future". There is some information on efforts to prevent small boat crossings by French authorities - who, under a 2023 deal, are receiving £476m from the UK over three years. They say about 17,379 people were prevented from crossing between July and December 2024. We do not know what happened to them or whether they tried to cross again. There have been high-profile cases of UK-based smugglers being sentenced,including a man who helped smuggle more than 3,000 peopleand raids on the continent. And at the recent UK-EU summit both sidespledgedto work together on finding solutions to tackle illegal immigration. Illegal migration includes people who arrive on small boats, or hidden in lorries, and people who remain in the UK after their legal visa expires. The vast majority of UK immigration is legal - this includes people who have been granted permission to come to work, study, claim asylum or for other authorised purposes. Last year, about 43,000 people entered the UK illegally - about 4% of the nearly one million people who came to the UK legally in 2024. The government has also promised "to clear the asylum backlog". This refers to the backlog of claims by asylum seekers who are waiting to hear whether they will be granted refugee status and be allowed to remain in the UK. Since last summer, there has been a 50% increase in decisions on asylum cases. But despite this, the UK sawa record number of asylum applicationsacross the year, meaning the overall backlog has actually risen since the election. Under Labour, 41% of asylum claims were granted between October and December 2024. Another backlog the government wants to clear is the mountain of court appeals from asylum seekers following rejected claims. That backlog has also got worse since last summer's election, according to the latest figures. There were about 33,000 cases at the end of June, rising to nearly 42,000 in December - the highest total since at least 2015. The government has also promised to "increase returns" of people with no legal right to be in the UK. It said it would set up a new returns and enforcement unit with 1,000 extra staff. The number of returns rose by around 2,000 - from just under 22,000 to 24,000 - between July 2024 and March 2025, year-on-year. The government is meeting this pledge but it is worth noting that the majority of returns were "voluntary", not "enforced". Just 6,339 people were forcibly removed, which could involve being escorted onto a plane by an immigration official. Previous figures, up to December, show many of those who did leave voluntarily did so without government assistance or without its knowledge at the time,as BBC Verify has previously pointed out. This is despite repeated claims from ministers that the government has "removed" or even "deported" this many people. The Home Office says all returns outcomes are the result of collective efforts by the department. BBC Verify has approached the Home Office on each of the pledges to ask how the government intends to meet them. What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"UK Government's Efforts to Address Illegal Immigration and Asylum System Under Scrutiny"
Bbc News
7.0
TruthLens AI Summary
The UK government's focus on illegal immigration and the asylum system has intensified under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has prioritized restoring order to the asylum process. Despite this commitment, the number of small boat crossings has surged to record levels, prompting calls for urgent action. The Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, has also made strong promises to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, vowing to eliminate the use of asylum hotels, which they argue is a costly burden on taxpayers. However, recent data reveals that the number of hotels accommodating asylum seekers has increased since Labour took office, with 218 hotels housing approximately 38,000 individuals by December 2024, up from 212 in July. The reliance on hotels has grown as traditional asylum accommodation options have failed to keep pace with the influx of arrivals, leading to significant daily costs of around £8 million for the government in 2023-24.
The government's strategy includes disrupting people-smuggling operations, yet there remains ambiguity regarding how progress will be measured and when objectives will be achieved. The Home Office has indicated that data on actions against criminal gangs is being collected but has not provided specifics on future publications. Notably, a deal with French authorities aims to prevent crossings, and while some success has been reported, the fates of those prevented from crossing remain unclear. The government has also committed to clearing the asylum backlog, which has seen a 50% increase in case decisions since last summer. Nevertheless, the overall backlog has risen, exacerbated by the influx of new asylum applications. Additionally, while there has been an increase in the number of returns of individuals without legal status in the UK, the majority of these have been voluntary rather than enforced removals. The complexities of the asylum system and the challenges in meeting these pledges underscore the difficulties the government faces in achieving its immigration objectives.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article highlights the UK government's challenges in addressing illegal immigration and the asylum system, particularly focusing on small boat crossings. The Prime Minister's commitment to "restore order" and the opposition leader's vow to combat human trafficking suggest a political focus on immigration issues. However, the statistics reveal that small boat crossings have increased, contradicting government pledges and raising questions about their effectiveness.
Government Pledges Under Scrutiny
The Prime Minister's and Labour's pledges to end the use of asylum hotels and to handle illegal immigration seem increasingly at odds with current realities. The increase in asylum hotels indicates a failure to reduce the reliance on this costly accommodation method, which costs taxpayers significantly. The promise to stop the boats appears unfulfilled, as evidenced by the rise in small boat crossings.
Public Perception and Political Narrative
This reporting aims to create a perception of government inefficacy in managing immigration, potentially swaying public opinion against the current administration. By emphasizing the rise in asylum hotel usage and small boat crossings, the article raises concerns over government accountability and effectiveness, which could influence voter sentiments.
Possible Omissions and Underlying Issues
The article might obscure broader systemic issues within the asylum process and immigration policies. It focuses on statistics without delving into the reasons behind the increase in asylum claims or the challenges faced by the government in managing immigration flows. This could lead to a simplified understanding of a complex issue.
Manipulative Elements and Reliability
The article has a moderate level of manipulativeness, primarily through selective statistics that highlight failures without providing a comprehensive analysis of contributing factors. While it presents factual information, the framing may engender a negative perception of government actions. The reliability of the article hinges on the accuracy of the statistics presented and the absence of counterarguments or a broader context.
Comparative Context
When compared to other news pieces on immigration, this article aligns with a growing trend of scrutinizing governmental promises amidst rising immigration numbers. It reflects a general media narrative focusing on accountability and the effectiveness of political promises, which could lead to increased public pressure on policymakers.
Impact on Society and Economy
The article's implications could influence societal attitudes toward immigration, potentially leading to increased public support for stricter immigration controls. Economically, the high costs of asylum hotels may provoke debates about budget allocations, impacting broader government spending policies.
Target Audience and Support Base
This news article likely appeals to audiences concerned about immigration issues, including those fearing economic strain or cultural changes due to increased immigration. It may resonate more with individuals who favor stricter immigration policies.
Market and Global Implications
While the article primarily addresses national immigration issues, it could indirectly impact markets associated with housing and social services. Companies involved in accommodation or immigration services may see fluctuations based on public sentiment and government policy shifts, although the direct stock market impact may be limited.
Global Power Dynamics
The ongoing debate around immigration is a significant topic in many countries, reflecting broader global trends and challenges regarding migration. This article contributes to the discourse by highlighting the UK's struggles, which may resonate in other nations facing similar issues.
Potential AI Influence
There is no clear indication that AI was used in writing this article. However, if AI had been employed, it might have influenced statistical presentation or narrative tone to align with prevailing media trends. AI models could have potentially shaped the framing of immigration statistics, aiming to provoke a specific emotional response from readers.
Overall, the reliability of this article is moderate, given its focus on specific statistics and outcomes while lacking a broader context or analysis of underlying issues. The framing could lead to a skewed perception of government effectiveness in handling immigration concerns.