Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Around 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum: Report

Nearly 36,000 migrants are currently being accommodated in hotels and it costs the taxpayer £2.9 million a day

Around 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum: Report

AFTER scrapping Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme, the Labour government would allow more than 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum, The Telegraph reports.

Around 90,000 migrants earmarked for deportation to Rwanda will be among the 102,000 who will be processed through the asylum system.


Regarding people arriving by small boats, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman called for speedy processing to ensure that "people are not sitting in the system, housed in expensive taxpayer-funded hotels.”

Nearly 36,000 migrants are currently being accommodated in hotels and it costs the taxpayer £2.9 million a day.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper is working with Home Office officials to establish whether it will need to repeal Conservative immigration legislation to switch migrants into the asylum system and introduce own legislation.

Labour has already pledged to curb small boats crossing the Channel by launching a new border security command, which is expected to take shape in the coming days.

A Border Security Bill will feature in Starmer’s first King’s Speech on July 17 when the PM sets out his legislative programme for the coming year.

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly has attacked the Labour government for making the country 'attractive' to asylum seekers.

He said the scrapping of 'Rwanda deterrent' and granting amnesty to 100,000 illegal migrants in 'less than five days' will encourage more asylum seekers into the country.

Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair has urged Starmer to have a “plan to control immigration”. “We need a plan to control immigration. If we don’t have rules, we get prejudices,” he added.

Blair felt that digital ID technology offered the best solution to controlling irregular immigration.

Rights organisations

Meanwhile, many refugee and human rights organisations have written to Starmer with a blueprint for asylum policy. They want him to change course from the policies of the previous government, The Guardian reports.

They say the existing policy is “fundamentally broken”, and want the government to protect people seeking safety, "rather than punishing them for political gain".

The signatories included 300 civil society organisations along with 534 individuals.

Boat migrants

The total number of illegal migrants who have crossed the Channel so far this year has reached a record 13,600.

In 2023 as a whole, 29,437 people came to the UK this way. That was a big drop from the 2022 total of 45,755.

Since 2018, nearly 120,000 people have come to the UK by this route.

More For You

Voices of Faith - Day 2: A profound confluence of spirituality, music, and dialogue

Barnaby Rogerson in conversation with Anthony Sattin (L) on day 2 of Voices of Faith

Voices of Faith - Day 2: A profound confluence of spirituality, music, and dialogue

Mahesh Liloriya

The second day of Voices of Faith unfolded with an enchanting blend of music, philosophy, and intellectual exploration at the Barbican Centre, London. This inaugural festival, curated by Teamwork Arts—the force behind the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London—has been made possible by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners, amplifying the festival’s reach and resonance.

Session 1- Echoes of eternity: The timeless notes of Kabir

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-immigration

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

UK returns 24,000 illegal migrants since July, highest in eight years

THE UK government has returned over 24,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the country since July, marking the highest rate of removals in eight years, prime minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

Baroness Patricia Scotland speaks at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London (Photo: The Ismaili National Council for the United Kingdom)

'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

THE outgoing head of the Commonwealth has paid tribute to the late Prince Karim Aga Khan, describing him as a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication to service, peace, and pluralism has left a lasting impact on the world.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London last Wednesday (26), Baroness Patricia Scotland, who steps down as Commonwealth secretary general on 1 April, reflected on her personal connection with the Aga Khan, recalling their meetings during Commonwealth Day celebrations at Westminster Abbey.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Myanmar-quake-rescue-Reuters

Rescuers carry the body of a victim during search and rescue operations, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30. (Photo: Reuters)

Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,700, UK pledges £10m in aid

RESCUE efforts continued in Myanmar as residents searched for survivors in collapsed buildings in Mandalay, two days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country. The disaster has killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and 17 in neighbouring Thailand.

The quake hit near Mandalay on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The tremors caused widespread destruction, damaging buildings, bridges, and roads in the city of more than 1.7 million people.

Keep ReadingShow less