Net migration hits a new record of 606,000: Rishi Sunak admits ‘numbers are too high’ amid Tory backlash after figures lay bare huge spike last year – but denies inflows are ‘out of control’ and blames system he ‘inherited’
- The Office for National Statistics has published data for the year to December
Rishi Sunak admitted immigration is ‘too high’ today as he faced a Tory backlash over figures laying bare an extraordinary spike.
Long-awaited statistics showed net migration was 606,000 across 2022. That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 – even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication.
The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
Although slightly lower than some had feared, the eye-watering level – roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol in a single year – will spark a furious political row over the Conservative manifesto pledge that ‘numbers will come down’ from the 226,000 in 2019.
Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands, and one of the selling points for Brexit was ‘taking back control’ of borders.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Mr Sunak said: ‘Numbers are too high, it’s as simple as that. And I want to bring them down.’
But Mr Sunak stressed he had ‘inherited’ significant levels, and pressed on whether immigration is out of control, he replied: ‘Well, no, I think the numbers are just too high.’
The premier said measures put in place this week to stop foreign students bringing dependants ‘are significant’.
MPs have been demanding action from Mr Sunak, with the fallout underlined in a poll finding Labour are more trusted on immigration.
The PM has focused on his vow to curb illegal immigration by ‘stopping the boats’ crossing the Channel.
Allies of Home Secretary Suella Braverman have made clear she wants more drastic steps, and has faced resistance from Cabinet colleagues concerned about damaging the economy.
Long-awaited statistics showed another rise in net migration to 606,000 across 2022 – breaking the previous record of 504,000 from the year to last June
Long-term immigration is running at well over a million according to the latest ONS figures – although it has been partially offset by people leaving
Total long-term emigration ticked up in the final quarter of last year, according to the ONS
Non-EU nationals are primarily coming to the UK to work and study – although a growth in humanitarian arrivals reflects the situations in Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan
Tory foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns cautioned against ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to the high numbers
Jay Lindop, Deputy Director of the ONS Centre for International Migration, said: ‘A series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following Covid led to record levels of international immigration to the UK.
‘The main driver of the increase was people coming to the UK from non-EU countries for work, study and for humanitarian purposes, including those arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong. For the first time since using our new methods to measure migration, we have also included asylum seekers in our estimates, with around 1 in 12 non-EU migrants coming via this route.
‘There are some signs the underlying drivers behind these high levels of migration are changing. As lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2021, we saw a sharp increase in students arriving.
‘Recent data suggests that those arriving in 2021 are now leaving the country, with the overall share of non-EU immigration for students falling in 2022.
‘In contrast, those arriving on humanitarian routes increased over the 12 months. Evidence also suggests immigration has slowed in recent months potentially demonstrating the temporary nature of these events.’
The Office for National Statistics figures cover the 12 months ending December 2022.
They estimate the net migration level – the balance between inflows and outflows – for those who intend to stay in the country for at least a year.
The ONS previously net migration at 504,000 in the year to last June.
But that was revised up to 606,000, the same as for 2022 as a whole.
Analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies had suggested the number would be between 700,000 and 997,000 in that period.
Separate Home Office data is expected to show that the high inflows have continued, with nearly a million migrants granted permission to come to Britain for work or study in the year to March.
Mr Sunak has promised action to bring down net migration, telling reporters on a recent trip to Japan that he wanted to be ‘crystal clear’ with the public that the ‘numbers are too high’ and he wants to ‘bring them down’.
Former minister John Hayes, a supporter of Ms Braverman, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning that businesses needed to recognise they cannot ‘turn the tap on and bring people from abroad’.
‘I think the government as a whole has got to grasp this… where on earth are you going to house these people?’ he said.
On Tuesday, the Government announced that overseas students will be banned from bringing dependants to the UK from January 2024.
The change will not apply to those on postgraduate research programmes.
Mr Sunak said it was the ‘biggest-ever single measure to tackle legal migration, removing the right for international students to bring dependants, toughening the rules on post-study work, and reviewing maintenance requirements’.
Meanwhile, Labour has unveiled immigration plans under which businesses would be stopped from easing staff shortages by hiring cheaper overseas workers.
During PMQs yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: ‘The Prime Minister stood on three Tory manifestos, each one promised to reduce immigration. Each promise broken.
‘This mess on immigration reveals a Tory Party with no ambition for working people and no ambition for Britain, just the same old failed ideas – low wages and high tax.’
Mr Sunak questioned Labour’s contribution, saying: ‘There are absolutely no ideas … absolutely no semblance that there would be any control. Why? Because he believes in an open-door migration policy.’
Total net migration – the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving the country – in the 12 months to June 2022 stood at an estimated 504,000
Rishi Sunak has promised action to bring down net migration, telling reporters on a recent trip to Japan that he wanted to be ‘crystal clear’ with the public that the ‘numbers are too high’ and he wants to ‘bring them down’
Allies of Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) have made clear she wants more drastic steps to curb immigration
A new poll has found Labour is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration.
After a rise in public confidence in the Tories’ immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, the Ipsos research conducted between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues.
Some 38 per cent of people trusted Labour to have the right policies on immigration and asylum seekers, and 37 per cent trusted the party to handle the issue of small boats crossing the Channel.
Just 29 per cent said the same about the Conservatives on immigration, with 28 per cent trusting them on asylum policy and 27 per cent trusting them on small boats.
But there was also widespread pessimism about both parties’ policies on immigration and asylum, with 50 per cent saying they did not trust Labour and more than 60 per cent saying they did not trust the Conservatives.
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