Britain has recorded a record 108,000 asylum applications in 2024, the highest number ever documented, according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data. The figure represents a 28 percent rise from the previous year’s 84,000 applications, surpassing the 2002 peak of 103,000. The surge has placed immense pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which faces growing criticism for its handling of border control and migration policies.
The OECD report also highlighted a sharp increase in unauthorized attempts to enter the UK, with nearly 44,000 small boat crossings across the English Channel in 2024—up from 37,000 in 2023. Pakistani nationals accounted for the largest group of asylum seekers, submitting over 10,000 applications, followed by Afghans and Iranians. Meanwhile, several European countries saw declines in asylum claims, including Germany, which recorded a drop of nearly 100,000 to around 230,000, and France, Spain, and Italy, whose totals remained higher than the UK’s but grew at significantly lower rates.
Public concern over migration has intensified, with former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick warning that “mass immigration is crushing national prosperity.” Official data revealed Britain’s population grew by more than 750,000 in the year to mid-2024, driven largely by net migration. The recent appointment of Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary, a far-left Muslim figure, has drawn scrutiny, with critics arguing her focus on “social justice” may overshadow enforcement priorities.
The crisis has escalated further in 2025, with over 35,000 migrants crossing the Channel so far this year—a 25 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The Labour government’s approach continues to face mounting scrutiny as the migration challenge intensifies.
