EU net migration to UK falls to lowest level in a DECADE

Net immigration to Britain from EU states has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, new official statistics revealed today.

The number of EU citizens from central and eastern Europe, including from Poland, living in the UK is falling - but the number of western Europeans is still going up. 

Overall arrivals from Europe in the year to September were at 57,000, the lowest level since 2009. 

Immigration from countries outside the trade bloc hit their highest level in almost 15 years in the year to September as overall arrivals to the UK rose to 283,000 people, according to the Office for National Statistics.

But it was offset by a continued fall in arrivals from the European Union since the Brexit referendum.  

In the 12 months to the end of September 2018, there were 627,000 people who moved to live in the UK.

At the same time, 345,000 moved out of the country permanently. 

The Office for National Statistics figures show the number of arrivals from outside the EU is at 261,000, the highest level since 2004. 

Theresa May's official spokesman said the figures showed the UK was 'continuing to attract and retain highly skilled workers, including doctors and nurses'. 

He said: 'We are committed to reducing immigration to sustainable levels, which is the tens of thousands. 

'The Prime Minister has always been clear that it will take time to achieve that target.' 

Asked what the PM's response was to spiralling non-EU migration - which is already subject to controls - her spokesman said: 'Our commitment is to reduce net migration.

'We keep all routes in to the UK under review.'  

Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'It is a real concern that non-EU net migration has risen still further to more than a quarter of a million even before the government has implemented its proposals to loosen the work permit system.

'It's no surprise that EU net migration has fallen further given the extraordinary uncertainty prevailing over Brexit.' 

Matthew Fell, the CBI’s chief UK policy director, said: 'These figures confirm fewer EU workers are coming to the UK, exacerbating labour and skills shortages across many sectors, from farm labourers to engineers.

Businesses cannot succeed without access skills and labour, which is why it’s so important the government delivers a post-Brexit immigration system which is both open and controlled.'   

Stephen Clarke, an economic analyst at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said: 'While UK politicians are seemingly unable to provide any clarity on where Britain is heading post-Brexit, EU migrants are increasingly doing so – by leaving.

'EU migration is now at its lowest level in a decade – a fall that is being driven by fewer EU migrants coming to the UK for work.'  





MailOnline