New figures from the MoJ show that asylum appeals have hit a record high and almost doubled in a year. The end of December last year saw 80,333 cases in the system compared to 41,987 in 2024. 36% of appeals were successful between October and December – compare that to 20% in France…
A 63-week average waiting time for appeals is up on 48 weeks in 2024. Asylum seekers as of November are only allowed to make one appeal. On average each claim covers 1.3 people, which means at the current appeal success rate 37,595 additional people will be granted asylum from December onwards…
In Henry Mance’s piece today for the FT, lunching with Nigel Farage:
“Splendido!” Farage says, when the drinks arrive; I suppose it’s a step to European reconciliation. We clink glasses, and he lights the first of two back-to-back Benson & Hedges. A few minutes later, we’re back downstairs. “Are you drinking? Good.” He orders a glass of Sauvignon blanc for each of us — not a bottle, “because it’s Lent” — followed by a bottle of claret, to have with our meal. They say Farage drinks less than he used to. They say a lot of things.”