1/ The clearance of the legacy asylum backlog is a promise kept. But ultimately this is just managing the symptoms of the problem, not solving it. The only thing that matters is stopping illegal arrivals. The government must do more. Some myth-busting👇
2/ I was told at the start of 2023 that it was impossible to clear the asylum backlog and maintain or enhance rigour. But we did it, processing record number of cases while reducing the grant rate.
3/ Central to achieving this has been the revolution in performance and accountability. We cut out reams of unnecessary paperwork and held decision makers to account. Expectations were made clear. Top performers were rewarded. Failure was challenged for once.
4/ Accountability was a culture shock. It made people uncomfortable. But it was desperately needed. The civil service more generally would benefit from more honest conversations about individual performance, placing the interest of the public we serve over an easy life.
5/ Decision makers who focussed on specific nationalities were better able to pick apart the myriad of lies used by illegal migrants to game the system. Wherever we could we reexamined country guidance and challenged lazy assumptions about the safety of countries.
6/ But none of this a *solution*. Those that have claims rejected will appeal and frustrate their removal, many ultimately using the ECHR. Those that are granted are overwhelmingly low-skilled men with poor literacy who will remain dependent on the state for decades to come.
7/ More research is needed but a 2021 study from the Uni of Amsterdam estimated that the cost to the state from the average asylum seekers from the Middle East or North Africa was roughly 650,000 euros per individual over their lifetime.
8/ Every day this is being felt in communities across the UK. As just one example, councils that once complained about the backlog now complain that the Home Office are clearing cases too fast, placing huge pressure on social housing stock. It’s the poorest who suffer most.
9/ The immense cost to taxpayers and the damage to our communities will continue until we take the most robust steps possible to stop the boats and secure our borders. Thats why I feel so strongly that the ineffective Rwanda Bill needs to be changed or else the cycle goes on.
@RobertJenrick This is better a reasoned and evidenced approach . We know that the system is being abused, the civil service doesn’t care / is cheering it on., so firm action is needed
@RobertJenrick @jfwduffield The vast majority of migration is legal, because your govt has been doling out work, student and family visas willy nilly.
@RobertJenrick Another Tory complaining about being A Tory. #ToryCriminalsUnfitToGovern
@RobertJenrick You are a fat liar . Happy to change definitions , categories … in fact , lie . You & your colleagues have done nothing positive . You are cheat & charlatans .
@RobertJenrick Nothing has been cleared/solved, merely shifted to a different list with local authorities having to source accommodation rather than central Government. It’s a failure of epic proportions jeopardizing security and safety of our citizens.
@RobertJenrick The boats account for 0.7% of immigrants. Clickbait racism.
@RobertJenrick Well done Robert .. keep updating us
@RobertJenrick Interesting thread Robert. Why is there a backlog? There are 60,000 asylum cases currently, you let in 740,000 migrants in to the U.K. through visas etc last year alone. No matter how you spin this it is you and your government’s failure.
@RobertJenrick Robert leaves unanswered the question of whether he will vote against the Bill if it’s not changed. All mouth and no trousers as per usual.
@RobertJenrick So, no longer able to blame the EU for your failures, you now demonise immigrants and curse civil servants. After almost 14 years in power. Shame on you.