Yvette Cooper responds to decision to pause inadmissibility decisions for asylum claims

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the government's decision to pause inadmissibility decisions for asylum claims, said: 

“This announcement that Tory ministers have tried to quietly slip out shows that all of their new asylum laws are a total con and the system is in complete chaos.

“Ministers claimed only last year that everyone who arrived through a third country would be “inadmissible” and would be returned. Instead, out of the 70,000 people they considered inadmissible only 23 have been returned, and they have now abandoned the whole policy because it is in such a mess. 

"It means tens of thousands of people are now stuck in the asylum system, often in costly hotels at the taxpayers' expense, with no decision ever being made on their case. Whether their failing Rwanda scheme does ever get off the ground or not, it shows the Conservatives have no plan to deal with the other 99 per cent of people currently stuck in the asylum system. 

“The Tories have broken the asylum system and the country is paying the price.” 

Ends

Notes:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inadmissibility-claims-under-the-migration-and-economic-development-partnership/consideration-of-inadmissibility-claims-under-the-migration-and-economic-development-partnership

• Inadmissibility figures for 2021-2023.