Home Office figures have revealed an unprecedented rise in the number of asylum seekers waiting more than six months for an initial decision. The latest figures show that a total of 175,457 people were waiting on an asylum application at the end of June 2023. This is up 44% during the same period in 2022 and the highest figure since current records began in 2010. An official spokesperson said the record-breaking rise in people waiting for an initial decision is “due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions.” The Labour Party has blasted the government for the UK’s record-high asylum backlog saying that it amounts to a “disastrous record” for Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn