London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – ONS data reveals UK net migration hit a record 906,000 in 2023, revised figures show, with stricter visa rules under Rishi Sunak causing a sharp decline.
Britain’s net migration hit a record 906,000 last year in June 2023 during the leadership of Johnson and Sunak.
The difference between arrivals and departures in the UK declined by 20% in the latest period, dropping to 728,000 by June 2024.
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the net migration numbers for the year to June 2023, increased by 166,000, reaching a total of 906,000.
The ONS reveals that 82,000 more people moved to the UK, while 84,000 fewer people departed.
The office reported other factors contributing to the revision including enhanced data on Ukraine visas and improved methods for estimating migration from non-EU countries.
As reported by the BBC, the ONS stated that the figures are still “official statistics in development” and may be revised with the availability of further data.
ONS said in a statement, “A statement from the ONS said: “Estimates in this release have been updated back to YE June 2021. For example, net migration has been revised upwards by 166,000 for YE [year ending] June 2023 and by 181,000 for YE December 2023.”
“Reasons for these revisions include more available data, more information on Ukraine visas and improvements to how we estimate migration of non-EU nationals.”
BBC reports that Home Office spending on the asylum system rose by £1.43 billion in 2023/24, adding £5.38 billion, a 36% rise from the previous year.
The total covers all asylum-related costs by the Home Office, such as direct cash support, accommodation, staffing, and migration and border activities.
The cost of operations related to Channel crossings and intercepting migrants en route to the UK is not included.
The revised figures, which span the time of the previous Conservative government tenure before the general election, new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch admitted that her party had failed on migration.
In a speech on Wednesday, she said there had been a “collective failure of political leaders from all parties over decades” to grasp the issue.
She added, “On behalf of the Conservative Party, it is right that I as the new leader accept responsibility, and say truthfully we got this wrong.”
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesmen accused the previous government of having “effectively run Britain as an experiment in open borders,” blaming the record high as a result of “policies and decisions taken by the last government.”
Mary Gregory, the ONS director, said this year’s decline in figures was due to a fall in the number of dependents on study visas from outside the EU, a prediction in work-related arrivals and an increase in emigration.
Home Office data revealed this month shows that in the year to June 2024, 94,000 fewer individuals were applying for study visas to the UK compared to last year.
The study visa includes dependents of students, but from January 2024 the Conservative government has banned them from bringing family members or dependents with them on study visas.
Marley Morris, associate director for migration at the Institute for Public Policy Research, stated the revised immigration peak of 900,000 presents the new Labour government with “a tough set of choices on immigration.”