PM says he has signed deal with Albania that will speed up removal of recent arrivals from Balkan country

Rishi Sunak has told MPs his government will end the backlog of UK asylum claims by the end of 2023, with the number of outstanding claims at more than 140,000.

The prime minister was announcing a new set of aspirational policies designed to fix the UK’s immigration system including law changes to criminalise and then remove tens of thousands of people who claim asylum after travelling to the UK by small boat.

PM says he has signed deal with Albania that will speed up removal of recent arrivals from Balkan countryUK politics live – latest news updatesRishi Sunak has told MPs his government will end the backlog of UK asylum claims by the end of 2023, with the number of outstanding claims at more than 140,000.The prime minister was announcing a new set of aspirational policies designed to fix the UK’s immigration system including law changes to criminalise and then remove tens of thousands of people who claim asylum after travelling to the UK by small boat. Continue reading…