The number of asylum applications to the UK fell by 11 per cent last year, although the UK still has the second highest number of applicants in Europe, new figures have revealed.

Lord Rooker, the Home Office minister, said the data was encouraging and provided evidence that the government was effectively deterring asylum seekers.

However, it emerged that the UK has failed to remove over 130,000 migrants who had their claims for asylum turned down.

Fewer than 20,000 failed asylum seekers have been removed from the country over the last two years.

The UK has also seen a huge rise in the number of asylum appeals, prompting Express claims that "our worst fears" have been realised.