Asylum seekers who launch appeals against being deported will no longer be allowed to remain in the UK while their cases are heard, Appeal Court judges have ruled, writes Amy Taylor.

Lord Justice Brooke said that currently asylum seekers are usually allowed to stay in the UK when an appeal is launched regardless of its merits.

He said that this should no longer be the case due to the numerous challenges against deportation being made in the Court of Appeal by illegal immigrants.

“The practice of pursuing a further appeal to this court in a judicial review matter in the immigration and asylum field has given rise to very serious abuse,” he said. “Appellants are pursuing wholly unmeritorious appeals simply to delay the time when they are to be deported.”

The ruling came following an appeal by asylum seeker that Lord Justice Brooke said was an example of the “frequent” unworthy challenges.