UK Net Migration Halves to 431,000 in 2024, Boosting Starmer

Net migration to the UK has almost halved from 860,000 to 431,000 over the past year, driven largely by a sharp decline in non-EU nationals coming for work and study visas, as well as a significant drop in dependents arriving with students and workers. This decrease, confirmed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reflects the impact of stricter immigration policies introduced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government, including higher salary thresholds for foreign workers, bans on recruiting overseas care workers, and tougher visa and language requirements. Although the recent figures primarily cover the period before Labour's new measures took effect, forecasts suggest net migration will continue to fall significantly in coming years, potentially by up to 250,000. These trends provide a political boost for Starmer, who aims to reduce net migration and manage immigration pressures while critics warn of possible legal and economic consequences. Despite public expectations of increasing migration, experts emphasize that net migration is now much lower than previous peaks and may decline further, calling for a more forward-looking immigration debate. The upcoming ONS updates are expected to confirm these patterns and assess the effectiveness of the government's immigration reforms.