New Home Office data reveals that the number of individuals residing in asylum hotels in the UK has declined to the lowest level in 18 months, with figures showing 30,657 people were accommodated at the end of 2025. This marks a 19% reduction compared to the previous year, signifying a notable shift in the government's handling of asylum seekers. The current administration has committed to closing all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament, although opposition leader Keir Starmer has voiced intentions to achieve this sooner. The decrease follows a peak in September 2023, when over 56,000 migrants were housed in such accommodations under the leadership of Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

In addition to the drop in asylum hotel usage, the Home Office data indicates a significant reduction in the asylum backlog, which decreased by 48% over the past year. As of December, there were 64,000 individuals awaiting an initial decision regarding their asylum cases, a 63% decline from a record high during mid-2023. This development suggests a more effective response to the rising numbers of asylum applications, possibly reflecting changes in policy and execution under the current government compared to its predecessor.

The end of 2025 also saw a slight decrease in the number of individuals receiving asylum support, with a reported 107,000 people accessing these services, indicating a 5% drop compared to 2024. These figures underscore the ongoing challenges and changes in the UK’s asylum system, prompting discussions around immigration policies, resource allocation, and the evolving political landscape as the government seeks to address public and political pressures surrounding the management of asylum seekers.