Britain, which is testing a range of immigration control measures, has seen a new record number of asylum applications. Britain topped the list of asylum applications in Europe last year.
Official figures show that applications rose to a record 108,000. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said that the UK saw a 28 per cent increase in 2023 as the number of asylum seekers in France and Germany fell.
The UK has now surpassed the record of 103,000 set in 20022. The OECD also found that 44,000 people entered Britain illegally in 2024. This is up from the previous record of 37,000 a year earlier. More than 10,000 asylum applicants came from Pakistan.
More than 8,000 came as refugees from Iran . Since becoming prime minister, 60,000 people have crossed the border by small boat under Keir Starmer.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phillips has accused Labour of losing control of the border, saying they have destroyed every plan put in place by the previous Conservative government to defend it.
