Labour is removing failed asylum seekers at a glacial pace despite the UK signing a host of deportation deals, new figures show. Fewer than one in six people refused sanctuary last year were booted out as the number living in taxpayer-funded accommodation continued to grow.

Britain returned 11,631 failed asylum seekers in 2025, while 80,264 were refused protection. Just 445 of the 10,853 Pakistanis refused protection last year were sent back to Islamabad – despite the two countries signing an asylum returns deal in 2022. And just 7% – 203 – of the 2,856 Vietnamese claimants refused sanctuary were booted out.

A staggering 4,577 asylum seekers who have lost all of their claims and appeals are still living in hotels, houses and flats paid for by British taxpayers.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Thousands of asylum claims are being refused every year, yet Labour do not have the backbone to remove those who have no right to remain, removing only a tiny fraction.

“At this rate, it will take decades to clear the backlog of failed asylum seekers Labour have welcomed.

“Labour has no deterrent. They clearly won’t even remove those whose asylum claims have been refused, let alone all illegal immigrants as they should.

“Only the Conservatives have a clear borders plan to remove illegal immigrants within a week and deport all foreign national offenders.”

The Tories warned it would take Labour 24 years to remove all of the failed Pakistani asylum seekers from the UK, nearly 200 of whom were living in taxpayer-funded accommodation as of December.

And it will take 14 years to remove the Vietnamese failed asylum seekers, the party said.

Just 318 of the 4,011 Turkish nationals who were refused sanctuary have been removed, prompting warnings that it could take 13 years to remove them.

Of the 110,000 protection claims, 41% (45,183) arrived on a small boat.

Eritreans, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese and Somalis accounted for almost three-fifths of all small boat arrivals. Another 12,176 (11%) entered the country illegally, either by lorry, in a shipping container or with fake documents.

And 38% of all asylum claims (41,461) came from foreign nationals who entered the UK on a work, study or visitor visa.

Of the 41,461 claimants, 34% (14,243) held a study visa, 32% (13,427) arrived on a work visa, 20% (8,258) used a visitor visa, and 13% held other forms of leave.

One in 10 asylum seekers was from Pakistan, with 11,618 in total. Most sought protection after arriving on a visa. They were followed by Eritreans (9,037) and Iranians (7,890).

Only 306 of 2,968 failed Iraqi asylum seekers were returned to Baghdad last year, just over 10%. A total of 250, or 17% of, rejected asylum seekers from China returned home last year out of 1,471 refusals.

These countries all have returns agreements with the UK to bolster the number of removals.

The Home Office said: “Nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been removed or deported from the UK since the 2024 election – up nearly a third on the 19 months prior.

“We have taken action against countries who fail to co-operate with the return of their citizens, and we’re ready to hit other nations that won’t play ball – with visa penalties and full visa bans if necessary.

“We are also reforming how human rights laws are applied to prevent migrants from frustrating their removal with bogus appeals.”