Net migration in the UK has hit a record high of 504,000 in the past year, reaching higher levels than seen even before Brexit.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that migration rose from 173,000 in the year to June 2021 to 504,000 in the year to June 2021, an increase of 331,000.
The increase is being driven by a surge in visas for foreign nationals to live, study and work in the UK and by the extraordinary humanitarian disasters of the past year such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Afghan resettlement and the new visa route for Hong Kong.
EU migrants continue to leave in significant numbers.
Net migration of non-EU nationals massively drove the numbers – estimated at 509,000 in the YE June 2022. That compared with negative 51,000 and 45,000 for EU and British nationals respectively.
Critics of Government policy will claim that the U.K. has not regained control of its borders since Brexit
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman recently said she wanted to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands,
