Fraser Nelson, an esteemed authority on immigration, recently voiced pressing concerns about the unregulated rise in the influx of migrants. Reports highlighted shockingly high immigration figures, with an astonishing 906,000 net individuals settled in the UK just last year. Indicative of an escalating trend, approximately 1.2 million migrants called the UK their new home, while 479,000 residents left. Mr. Nelson crucially points out the unsustainable nature of these numbers during his appearance on ‘Never Mind The Ballots’.
The acclaimed expert didn’t withhold criticisms aimed at the Home Office, chiding them for their inability to effectively monitor the full spectrum of incoming foreign nationals. He shared disconcerting updates that the 2022-23 border numbers have undergone a significant upward revision from the original estimate of 740,000 released earlier in May. He firmly posited that the current Labour government must accept greater responsibility in managing the escalating border situation.
Evidently, the government was taken unawares by various factors contributing to the massive immigration. The Labour party did not correctly anticipate the impact of attached dependents, such as the spouses and family members that incoming immigrants were accompanying or sponsoring. This significant discrepancy mainly emerged from the student populace and disrupted their expectations. Therefore, the kind of changes required involves feasibly adjusting parameters like the earnings threshold of a working spouse.
The government, however, is yet to acknowlege suggestions for a rise in the earnings threshold of spouses. The proposed value lies somewhere in the mid-thirty thousands range. Given the circumstances, experts like Nelson believe that this may be an inevitable change the government will have to face.
Net migration figures from June 2023 to 2024 tally to approximately 728,000. Over the previous year, around 1.2 million individuals migrated to the UK through legal channels or on small boats, while 479,000 residents departed. The substantial 20% net migration reduction from the previous year is a byproduct of measures employed by the preceding government.
Regulations employed by the prior government comprise of a ban on care workers sponsoring their family to come to the UK, as well as higher salary expectations for foreign workers. The ONS acknowledges the persistently high net migration numbers as unprecedented but also notes an initial decline. Amidst the emerging immigration data, there will likely be increased pressure for stricter border control measures, considering the net migration was equivalent to the populace of Nottingham.
A closer inspection reveals a significant surge in governmental expenditure on asylum seekers, experiencing an increase to £5.38 billion over the previous year from £3.95 billion. Alongside this financial aspect, the presence of asylum seekers in lodgings has amplified post-election, with an estimated 35,651 as of September 30 compared to the 29,585 accounted for on June 30.
To dissect the contribution to total inbound movement, it becomes evident that legal immigration dominates, and work and study visas serve as preferred avenues for this transition. A diverse array of nationalities account for these arrival numbers, reflecting a global connection of migrants reaching out to the UK for new opportunities.
In a breakdown of the nationalities of new arrivals in the UK, Indians topped the list, with around 240,000 crossing UK borders last year. Nigerians and Pakistanis followed, each accounting for about 120,000 individuals, with the Chinese and Zimbabwean folks numbered at 78,000 and 36,000, respectively.
Intriguingly, the effects of Brexit can be observed vividly amidst the shifting dynamics of immigration. One remarkable change is the reduced percentage of EU migrants in the comprehensive picture, a direct outcome of the long-debated Brexit impact on immigration.