Britain vows to revamp the troubled asylum system, as a surge of anti-migrant demonstrations unfolds

In a series of events over the weekend, protests against the current asylum system took place in several cities and towns across England. The demonstrations, organised under the "Abolish Asylum System" slogan, were held in Epping, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Dudley, Liverpool, and other cities, including Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Nuneaton, Wakefield, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Perth, and central London.

The protests, which saw both protesters and counter-protesters, were largely peaceful according to reports. However, in Bristol, police intervened to separate rival groups during the protests. No significant incidents were reported in any of the cities, as stated in a police communique.

The demonstrations come at a time when the UK government is under pressure to address the asylum system, particularly from the hard-right Reform UK party. The party, led by Nigel Farage, has suggested radical measures such as withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, conducting mass deportations, and building holding sites for 24,000 migrants.

The current asylum system has been a topic of contention for some time. Upon taking office, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser acknowledged the system was in complete chaos. The Conservative government, which was ousted in the 2024 elections, introduced the policy of housing migrants in hotels. As of the end of March 2025, 32,345 asylum seekers were temporarily housed in UK hotels.

The government has pledged to revamp its asylum system, aiming to reduce the backlog of initial asylum claims and court delays over appeals. The average wait time for an appeal currently stands at 53 weeks. To address this, the government plans to establish a new independent body to hear appeals by failed asylum applicants more swiftly.

The government is also considering lessons from European countries where appeals are decided by an independent panel. This move is part of a broader strategy to end the use of asylum hotels, which have been a target of the recent protests.

As of now, there are 106,000 cases waiting to be heard, including at least 51,000 appeals. In the year to June 2025, a total of 111,084 people applied for asylum, marking the highest number ever. A court ruling blocked the Labour government from housing asylum seekers at a specific hotel.

The ongoing protests and the government's plans for reform highlight the urgent need for action to address the asylum system in the UK. The government's efforts to streamline the system, reduce wait times, and improve the overall process will be closely watched in the coming months.