The Home Office have published the government's New Plan for Immigration, which proposes reforms to the asylum system. There is now a 6 week public consultation period.
gov.uk/government/con…
gov.uk/government/con…
It is not factually true that the increase in the backlog of cases (with more people waiting 6 months for a decision) arises from a rise in applications. It comes from reduced capacity/investment in the system: more delays with fewer claims 
The government is showing a 2-3 year time series. This is the long-term trend
The proportion of asylum claims granted status has risen over time. Similarish application numbers (much lower than 10-15 years ago, up slightly over 2-3 years, down last year) with a higher % being granted.
They are showing the decade
The government's approach has 3 central features. It would depend on negotiating return agreements that it does not have in place (so these will depend on other countries seeing these agreements as being of mutual interest). These will take time & might not be secured at all.
The government is happy to have a fight with courts and lawyers. Its proposals appear incompatible with the Refugee Comvention and current UK law. But it now says it would change UK law to clarify what our international obligations under the Treaty are...
New Resettlement Programme & Community Sponsorship schemes are good moves. The govt appears to present these (decision to protect Hong Kong British nationals) as a trade-off with having an asylum system under the refugee convention. This would penalise people with a valid claim.
BBC ten o'clock news shows UK has slightly more asylum applications than Italy; many fewer than France, Germany or Spain
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