Despite repeated Asylum pledges by the UK government to tackle illegal immigration, small boat crossings across the English Channel continue to rise. So far in 2025, more than 12,700 migrants have arrived by small boats, nearly a third more than this time last year, with 800 people arriving in just one day recently.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had previously pledged to “stop the boats,” while current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer vowed to “smash the gangs” facilitating illegal crossings. However, progress remains difficult to quantify. While UK officials claim ongoing efforts to disrupt smuggling networks, the Home Office has not published consistent or detailed data on how these gangs are being dismantled.
A £476 million agreement with France has led to the prevention of nearly 25,000 crossings between July 2024 and May 2025, but it’s unclear how many individuals have been deterred long-term or have simply made repeated attempts. Some convictions of UK-based smugglers have occurred, and joint UK-EU efforts are ongoing, but a comprehensive and measurable strategy remains elusive.
Backlogs and Asylum Pledge Hotels Persist Despite Promises
The Labour government pledged to end the use of asylum hotels, which currently cost taxpayers around £8 million per day. Yet, recent figures show the number of asylum seekers in hotels rose from 29,585 in June 2024 to 32,345 in March 2025, though it has decreased slightly from a peak in December.
The increase is partly due to a surge in asylum Pledge applications, primarily from small boat arrivals and individuals overstaying visas. As asylum seekers gain temporary legal protections while their cases are reviewed, the government remains dependent on hotel accommodations due to a lack of alternative housing solutions.
The government also committed to clearing the asylum case backlog, a goal showing mixed progress. Although there has been a 58% rise in case decisions since last summer and a recent drop in new applications, backlogged appeals have surged, rising from 33,000 in June 2024 to 42,000 by December, the highest level in nearly a decade. Between January and March 2025, 40% of claims were granted asylum, reflecting a cautious yet steady processing trend under labour leadership.
Return Efforts Rise, But Forced Deportations Still Low
One area where the government appears to be making measurable gains is in its promise to increase the returns of individuals with no legal right to stay in the UK. Between July 2024 and May 2025, the Home Office recorded 29,867 returns, a 12% increase compared to the previous year.
However, only 7,893 of those were forcibly removed, with the remainder likely to have departed voluntarily. A significant number of these individuals left the country without government support or notification, raising concerns about the accuracy of ministerial claims that such individuals were “deported.”
A new Returns and Enforcement Unit, featuring 1,000 additional staff, has been announced to bolster efforts. Still, critics argue that without more transparent reporting and reliable enforcement, the government’s pledges risk falling short of restoring public confidence in the immigration system.
In summary, while certain gains have been made, the UK’s immigration and asylum Pledge commitments remain hampered by rising arrivals, growing backlogs, and a reliance on costly interim measures.
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