Labour targets failed asylum seekers

The Prime Minister today unveiled a major plank of Labour's election platform with a pledge to step up deportations of failed asylum seekers.

Tony Blair admitted asylum remained a big concern of voters, and said it was "neither extremist nor racist" to be worried. He set a target that by the end of next year, the number of forced removals each month should exceed the number of new unfounded applications. At current rates, about 2,000 asylum requests are turned down each month while only 1,000 failed applicants are deported.

Both figures are already moving in the right direction for the Government, with applications falling and removals rising. Almost 1,000 extra detention places are to come on stream in the next seven months.