UK Net Migration Falls Sharply After Policy Changes

Net migration to the UK halved in 2024, dropping from 860,000 to 431,000, the sharpest annual decline since the pandemic. The fall is attributed to Conservative-era restrictions on work and study visas, continued under Labour, and a rise in emigration, especially among former students. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has announced further measures, including banning new visas for overseas care workers and stepping up deportations of failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders. The Conservative opposition has demanded a binding annual migration cap, arguing the figures are still too high. The Office for National Statistics links the decline mainly to fewer arrivals from non-EU countries and stricter policies. The migration debate remains politically charged, despite the marked drop in new arrivals.