UK Net Migration Hits Record 906,000

Keir Starmer has acknowledged the need to reduce immigration levels after new data revealed record net migration to the UK of 906,000 for the year ending June 2023, significantly above previous estimates. This figure, which has sparked a political uproar, reflects a 728,000 higher number of immigrants than those leaving the country. Starmer criticized the Conservative government for creating what he termed an 'open borders experiment' and promised to publish a white paper aimed at curbing immigration, particularly targeting businesses reliant on foreign workers. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, highlighted that enforced returns of foreign offenders have reached a five-year high as part of the government's efforts to manage immigration better. In addition to addressing high net migration, the government is also focusing on tackling people smuggling, including a new deal with Iraq. The revisions to migration data have raised questions about the accuracy of the Office for National Statistics, which is already facing scrutiny for previous errors.