The number of EU migrants coming to the UK in the year before Brexit broke records
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics came out today showing the number of people arriving in the UK was the same as the population of Nottingham, before the referendum.
Net long-term migration to the UK has remained around record levels at a third of a million as the inflow of EU citizens hit a historic high, the official figures show.
The headline measure - the overall difference between the numbers arriving and leaving the country - was estimated at 335,000 in the year to June.
This was just below the previous peak of 336,000 in the previous year.
Immigration, which covers the numbers of people coming into Britain only, was at 650,000 - the highest estimate recorded, the Office for National Statistics said.
An unprecedented 284,000 EU citizens are estimated to have arrived in the UK in the year to June, which covers a period up to and just after the referendum.
In the year ending in June, 189,000 EU citizens arrived for work - the highest estimate recorded.
In the year before Brexit as many people arrived from the EU as the population of Nottingham
Despite complaints and assertions from the Remain side of the Britain/EU argument, ONS statisticians said it is “too early” to say whether the vote has effected immigration long-term.
Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said: "Net migration remains around record levels, but it is stable compared with recent years. Immigration levels are now among the highest estimates recorded - the inflow of EU citizens is also at historically high levels and similar to the inflow of non-EU citizens; there were also increases in the number of asylum seekers and refugees.
"Immigration of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens continues the upward trend seen over the last few years and in 2015 Romania was the most common country of previous residence.
"The main reason people are coming to the UK is for work, and there has been a significant increase in people looking for work, particularly from the EU.
"These long-term international migration figures run to the end of June, so it is too early to say what effect, if any, the EU referendum has had on long-term international migration.
"There does not however appear to have been any significant impact during the run-up to the vote."
The jump in EU arrivals includes a rise in the number of citizens arriving to seek employment from the EU15 group of nations consisting of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Sweden.
The Tory Government had pledged to slash net migration to below 100,000 but the figures show they face a mammoth task.
But the Government has claimed it is committed to sticking to the promise.
Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: "The British people have sent a very clear message that they want more control of im
----- snip -----
read full article at source:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/738...ain-pre-Brexit