PREVIEW

UK Asylum Claims Fall as Small-Boat Arrivals and Hotel Use Decline. The number of people claiming asylum in the UK fell by 21% in the year to June 2026, with almost 86,000 applications recorded, according to figures reported by the Financial Times. The decline comes alongside a reduction in the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, a route that has accounted for a significant share of asylum claims in recent years. At the same time, the Labour government has accelerated efforts to reduce its reliance on hotels for accommodating asylum seekers, with the number housed in them falling to 16,021. The government has been replacing hotels with other forms of accommodation, including former military sites, while also pursuing faster asylum decisions and increased deportations. Overall, the cost of the UK's asylum system fell by 8% to £4.4 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, its lowest level in three years. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has presented the figures as evidence of progress but has stressed that the government will introduce more measures designed to deter irregular migration. The figures come amid continued political pressure on Labour over immigration, with the government facing criticism from both opponents and some within its own party over its asylum policies.
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