𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The UK recorded the largest increase in asylum claims in Europe last year, heaping more pressure on Keir Starmer’s immigration policies. Some 108,000 protection claims were lodged in 2024, a 28% increase from 84,000 in 2023 and surpassing the previous record of 103,000 set in 2002.

The data, revealed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, shows claims in France and Germany fell over the same period. More than 10,000 asylum applicants last year came from Pakistan, whilst more than 8,000 Afghans and a similar number of Iranians made claims last year.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Express: “These figures prove that Labour has lost control of our borders.

“They scrapped the Rwanda removals deterrent before it even started with no replacement – and the number of illegal immigrants crossing the channel surged as a result.

“The first nine months of the year were the worst in history for illegal channel crossings.

“The only way to fix this is to come out of the ECHR and ensure that every illegal immigrant is deported within a week of arrival. Then illegal immigrants in France will stop bothering to cross and Labour’s asylum bonanza will end.”

Lee Anderson, Reform UK MP, said: “Decades of failed Tory and Labour governments are to blame, who continue to posture on immigration while refusing to end the endless incentives that draw more arrivals.

“Migrants know that when they reach our shores, they’ll be met with blankets, warm clothes, four-star hotels and sometimes a prison bed.

“The British people are sick of seeing our leaders treat this country like a charity for the world’s poor and war-torn. Reform will ensure that British citizens come first, always.”

Overall, the most asylum applications were lodged in America, with 1.7 million seeking protection, up from 1.2 million in 2023 and 730,000 in 2022.

Almost 230,000 people sought refuge in Germany, a decrease of almost 100,000 from 2022. Berlin reintroduced border checks to prevent further influxes of migrants.

Spain and Italy saw smaller increases in the number of asylum claims – but they still received more applications overall, with 164,00 and 151,000 respectively.

This is largely because of their proximity to the migrant routes in the Mediterranean.

Statisticians at the OECD reported that the number of “new asylum seekers” reached a record high of 3.1 million, representing a 13% increase compared to 2023.

A separate analysis of Office for National Statistics data revealed that 90% of Pakistanis claimed asylum after travelling to the UK on a valid visa, while 87% of Bangladeshi applicants travelled to the UK legally.

A further 71% of Indian asylum applicants used a visa to travel to the UK, highlighting widespread fears over the abuse of the UK’s generosity.

By contrast, 84% of Afghans who claimed asylum arrived by a small boat. Some 89% of Eritrean applicants arrived the same way.

The asylum crisis cost taxpayers £4.76 billion a year in 2024/25, down from a record £5.38bn in 2023/24.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is concerned migrants are “asylum shopping”, looking for countries that offer them the best deal.

And Ms Mahmood is expected to overhaul modern slavery laws, with new rules forcing people to make their claim as soon as they arrive under consideration.

A Government source said: “There are people who are ‘asylum shopping across the continent, looking for the country that offers them the most.

“We have been criticised in this country for being too generous – creating a pull factor. We will reduce the pull factors.”