Keir Starmer: Illegal arrivals could apply for asylum under Labour

Labour is yet to set out in detail how it would resume applications for those who have previously arrived illegally.

Its election manifesto did not commit explicitly to repealing the Illegal Migration Act, but said “unworkable laws” enacted by the Tories had left thousands of people in taxpayer-funded hotels in a “perma-backlog” of claims.

Party figures have previously suggested that claims made before the election would be processed, with a new framework governing those arriving afterwards.

When pressed on the issue, the Labour leader said claims would be processed “though the system that’s been in place for years”.

According to the Daily Telegraph, external, the party believes it might be able to resume processing asylum applications immediately under one section of the act.

The Refugee Council, a charity representing refugees, has estimated that 73% of people crossing the Channel last year would be recognised as refugees if their claims were processed.

But it has warned that under the government’s current arrangements, the number stuck in asylum “limbo” could rise to over 100,000 people by the end of this year.