UK Sees Record Surge in Immigration in 2023

According to a recent OECD report, the UK recorded the highest increase in legal immigration among major economies in 2023, with net long-term inflows rising by 52.9% to a record 750,000, surpassing all other OECD countries except the US. This significant surge, attributed largely to family migration and dependants of international students, challenges the narrative of reduced migration following Brexit. The report highlighted that overall migration to OECD countries reached 6.5 million, with a third of member states experiencing record levels. Critics, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, have criticized the government's handling of immigration, promising to manage net migration more effectively. In contrast, the Tories have pointed to measures they implemented to control migration, despite the record numbers. The report indicates that the influx into the UK has more than doubled since pre-COVID levels, raising concerns about social cohesion and pressure on public services.