Statistics Watchdog Scrutinises Government Claim on Clearing Asylum Backlog

Jamie Jenkins, former senior analyst at the ONS, said he believes the Home Office’s handling of asylum claims represents ‘a significant security risk.’

A group of illegal immigrants are brought by a Border Force vessel to Dover, Kent, on July 18, 2023. Gareth Fuller/PA Media

The statistics watchdog has confirmed on Wednesday that it’s scrutinising the government’s claim on having clearing the asylum backlog.

The government said in a statement published on Tuesday that it has delivered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s commitment of “clearing the legacy asylum backlog” despite the fact that 4,537 “complex cases” remain undecided.