Newly Released Documents Show Blair’s Anger at Increase in Asylum Claims in 1999

Sir Tony Blair expressed frustration with the Home Office’s failure to address a growing backlog of asylum claims during his tenure as prime minister in 1999, as government files released on Tuesday revealed.

Documents from the National Archives indicate that Sir Tony, who was nearing two years in office at the time, criticized the lack of action to reduce the “significant numbers” entering the country.

These remarks are significant given the ongoing focus on controlling migrant arrivals in Britain.

At the time, then-Prime Minister Sir Tony intervened after Home Secretary Jack Straw warned in February 1999 of a “surge” in arrivals that was projected to reach 59,000 for the year, up from a previous estimate of 42,000.

In a memorandum, Lord Straw attributed part of the issues to the challenging situation inherited from the previous Conservative government, including poorly executed computerization efforts in the immigration and nationality department (IND).

Further revelations from the National Archives documents unveiled today shed light on other aspects of Sir Tony’s tenure, including his reluctance to engage in a televised debate with then-Tory leader William Hague in the run-up to 2001 and his desire to acquire a permanent prime ministerial battle bus in 2000.

Migration Still an Issue Today

There is still an ongoing concern about asylum arrivals and migration, even a quarter of a century after Sir Tony’s concerns about the influx of arrivals in 1999.

Recent figures from the Home Office show that nearly 1,500 migrants arrived in the UK via small boats across the English Channel in a single week.

During the week of July 15 to July 21, a total of 1,499 individuals made the journey in 27 boats, with two people tragically losing their lives during rescue operations off the French northern coast, as confirmed by the French coastguard.

PA Media contributed to this report.