The UK's asylum backlog has hit a new record high, with 80% of people waiting longer than six months for an initial decision.Home Office figures show a total of 175,457 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of June 2023, up 44% from 122,213 at the end of June 2022 - the highest figure since current records began in 2010.

The UK's asylum backlog has hit a new record high, with 80% of people waiting longer than six months for an initial decision.Home Office figures show a total of 175,457 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of June 2023, up 44% from 122,213 at the end of June 2022 - the highest figure since current records began in 2010.