Last year, the number of people moving to the UK decreased noticeably.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the number of people immigrating to the UK has dropped significantly compared to the last year. With approximately 685,000 people migrating into the country, the figure marks a decline of about 10% compared to the previous record in 2022, estimated at 764,000.
The ONS cautions that it's too early to determine if this is an emerging trend. However, the estimates indicate a potential fall in the number of immigrants and a rise in the number of emigrants. This news could fuel the debate on immigration ahead of the general election slated for July 4. The Conservative party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has vowed to cut down on immigration given the increasing housing shortage and the immense pressure on the country's healthcare system.
It's worth noting that the net immigration figures in the UK have been quite volatile over time. Back in 2016, when Theresa May was the Prime Minister, she set an ambitious target of reducing the net immigration to below 100,000. This seems unattainable given recent figures. The pandemic, for instance, led to a decrease in immigration to 93,000 in 2020 due to travel restrictions, but the numbers skyrocketed once these restrictions eased.
Since Britain left the European Union, more immigrants are coming from non-EU countries. The latest ONS data shows that 40% of migrant workers during the last year hailed from India or Nigeria. The agency also observed that an increasing number of people who had initially arrived in the UK on student visas were leaving the country. It's quite possible that this trend will intensify after the government recently tightened the regulations for students bringing their families to the UK.
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According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Great Britain experienced a significant decrease in net immigration last year, with estimates suggesting a decline of approximately 10% compared to 2022's record of 764,000 people. The ONS estimates also indicate a potential increase in emigrants, which could impact the ongoing immigration debate in Great Britain ahead of the general election in July.
Source: www.ntv.de
