Immigration numbers: Immigration to UK at record levels

This content was published on May 25, 2023 – 15:05
May 25, 2023 – 3:05 pm

(Keystone SDA)

Visits to Great Britain hit an all-time high last year. This is the result of the latest estimates by the British statistics agency ONS, published on Thursday.

According to this, around 600,000 more people will have immigrated to Great Britain by 2022 than have left the country. This is 118,000 more than the previous year. However, estimated net migration was lower than expected. There was some speculation in the media that it could be as high as 700,000.

Nevertheless, the latest migration figures are a major setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government. For years, governing conservatives have made curbing immigration one of their top priorities. The desire for greater control over one’s own borders was considered one of the most important reasons for leaving the EU. According to the ONS, the reason for the increased numbers is, among other things, the large number of people arriving from non-EU countries. Along with others from Ukraine and Hong Kong. According to statistics, a total of 1.2 million people came to the country.

A few days ago, the government in London announced that it would stop issuing visas to relatives of postgraduate students in Great Britain from next year. According to government figures, 136,000 visas for partners or children of students were issued in 2022 alone, eight times more than in 2019. This must end now.

London intends to crack down on irregular entry through the English Channel. Last year, around 45,000 people crossed the strait into the UK in small boats. As asylum laws are tightened, they will be denied access to protection in Great Britain in the future.