Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday said he expects to “abolish” the UK’s asylum applications backlog by the end of next year as he unveiled plans to tackle illegal immigration, change asylum rules, and set an annual quota for refugees.
Presenting a packed five-point plan to Parliament, Sunak said he would set up a dedicated team to crack down on people smuggling using small boats and working illegally in the UK; house asylum seekers in cheaper accommodation; revamp the asylum application process to ramp up productivity; and speed up the deportation of failed applicants.
He also set out plans to change the immigration legal framework, including legislating to remove those who arrive illegally and ban them from reentry….