Net migration to Britain has surged by 78,000 in the past year to 260,000 – a level substantially above the 244,000 in 2010 when David Cameron and Theresa May took office, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The latest figures for the 12 months to June 2014 kill off any remaining hopes that the prime minister and home secretary could meet their target of reducing net migration below 100,000 by the time of next year’s general election.
The latest figures also show that migration from outside Europe has once again started to increase, alongside a rise in the number of European migrants working in Britain.
The ONS figures show that included within the 78,000 increase is a rise of 45,000 in EU migrants and an increase of 30,000 in those from outside the EU. This underminesMay’s claim to have reduced migration from outside Europe while being prevented from curbing European migration by the EU’s free movement rules.
The detailed figures show that an estimated 323,000 people left Britain to live and work abroad in the 12 months to June 2014. This rate of emigration has been relatively stable since 2010.
The ONS said the increase in migrants coming to Britain to work was driven by a 14,000 rise in non-EU migrants, an 11,000 increase in Romanians and Bulgarians and a 10,000 rise in western European migrants.
More details soon …
