That's comparable to the UK figures. In 2023 there were around 80k asylum seekers and refugees, making up around 11% of total immigration. That's the highest si

That's comparable to the UK figures. In 2023 there were around 80k asylum seekers and refugees, making up around 11% of total immigration. That's the highest since a peak of similar height in 2002. Now, as then, asylum seekers are primarily people from wartorn countries like Aghanistan, Ukraine, or Syria, or people who face persecution for their beliefs or identity. They are generally choosing the UK because they have cultural ties (sometimes due to historic colonialisation by the UK) and/or can speak the language. What gets me is the current obsession over small boat crossings. This is less than half of all asylum seekers, i.e. 5% or less of total immigration. Most of these people are from wartorn countries, have a valid claim to asylum, and some kind of link to the country. I find it abhorrent that certain demagogues are manipulating the narrative to make it look like this is one of the biggest issues facing the UK. We should absolutely tackle the people-smuggling gangs that are putting migrants' lives at risk by overloading them onto dinghies and shoving them into the Channel. One of the best ways to do this would be to work on providing a safe alternative path to asylum, as for example exists for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers.