THE SNP have criticised the UK Government for its “total failure” to support refugees and asylum seekers – as a new report reveals a growing backlog of claims.
The report, published by the Refugee Council, reveals the number of people waiting more than a year for an initial asylum decision has risen almost tenfold over a decade of Tory rule – rising from 3588 in 2010 to 33,016 in 2020.
The report found, at the end of March, 66,185 people were waiting for an initial asylum decision from the Home Office – the highest number for more than a decade. Of those, more than 50,000 had been waiting for more than 6 months – again, the highest figure in more than a decade.
READ MORE: Michael Russell: Despite Tories' xenophobic policies, Scotland is still open
Immigration spokesperson for the SNP Anne McLaughlin said the UK asylum system was broken beyond repair and called for a complete overhaul.
The MP said: “It’s clear that the UK asylum system is broken beyond repair and needs a complete overhaul, including immediate efforts to address the mounting backlog of claims. The long and growing delays in initial decisions demonstrate, yet again, the total failure of the Tory government to make improvements over the past decade. Instead the asylum system has got even worse on Priti Patel’s watch.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here