Passengers are seen waiting in the south terminal of Gatwick Airport in Horley, south of London. AFP File Photo
Net migration to Britain reached an all-time high of over 900,000 in 2023, significantly surpassing initial projections, despite the implementation of stricter visa regulations that have begun to curb the influx, according to official data.
Immigration remains a contentious political issue in Britain, where concerns persist that overburdened public services may struggle to accommodate such a large number of newcomers. However, sectors like healthcare argue that they cannot operate without the contribution of foreign workers.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed a net migration of 906,000 for the year ending June 2023, revised upwards from the earlier estimate of 740,000. This marks an 'unprecedented level' since 2021, as described by the ONS.
The number of migrants did decrease by 20% to 728,000 for the year ending June 2024, attributed to fewer dependents accompanying students due to rule changes.
The surge to record levels in 2023 occurred under the previous Conservative government, which had pledged to reduce immigration and implemented measures to limit students and care workers from bringing family members.
The current Labour government, elected in July, also aims to reduce immigration by training local workers to fill skill shortages.
The significant increase in 2023's figures was due to better data availability, more information on Ukraine visas, and improvements in migration estimation methods, according to the ONS.
High levels of legal migration in 2016 were a key factor in Britain's decision to leave the European Union. While post-Brexit visa changes led to a sharp decline in EU migrants, new work visa rules resulted in a surge of immigrants from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, often to fill healthcare and social care roles.
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