Migration to UK rises to record 504,000 with Ukraine and Hong Kong schemes

BY|The Guardian

Jump in number of international students a factor in figure that is at least 400,000 higher than home secretary is aiming for

Net migration to the UK has reached a record level of 504,000 after the arrival of Ukrainians and Hongkongers under government schemes and a jump in the number of international students.

Asylum applications are at their highest for 32 years, but nearly 100,000 people are waiting more than six months to have their initial claims processed, official government data shows.

No 10 indicated on Thursday it was examining options to bring down the numbers of international students. “We are considering all options to make sure the immigration system is delivering and that does include the issue of students’ dependents, and low-quality degrees,” Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said.

The new net migration figure released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is an increase of 331,000 in a single year and is at least 400,000 more than the home secretary, Suella Braverman, is aiming for.

She promised in September she would try to get overall migration down to “tens of thousands” – a promise previously made by David Cameron and Theresa May but never achieved.

Responding to the figures, Braverman said she remained committed to reducing migration – but did not repeat her aim of reducing immigration to tens of thousands.

“The public rightly expects us to control our borders and we remain committed to reducing migration over time in line with our manifesto commitment,” she said. “This level of migration has put pressure on accommodation and housing supply, health, education and other public services. We must ensure we have a sustainable, balanced and controlled approach which is why we continue to keep our immigration policies under review.

“My priority remains tackling the rise in dangerous and illegal crossings and stopping the abuse of our system. It is vital we restore public confidence and take back control of our borders.”

Downing Street said Sunak wanted to bring overall immigration levels down.

About 504,000 more people are estimated to have moved to the UK than left in the 12 months to June 2022, up sharply from 173,000 in the year to June 2021. The total is significantly higher than the 224,000 projected for next year by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

The increase stems from a rise in visas for foreign nationals to live, study and work in the UK, which exceeded 1 million for the first time in the year to June.

A total of 1.1 million people are likely to have migrated to the UK in the year to June, the majority – 704,000 – from outside the EU. By contrast, 560,000 people are estimated to have left the UK in the same period, almost half of them – 275,000 – going back to the EU.

Students accounted for the biggest proportion of immigrants, at 277,000, nearly double the 143,000 who came to the UK in the year to June 2021. One factor was overseas students returning to their courses in the UK after studying remotely, the ONS said.

Humanitarian and other family visas accounted for the second largest proportion of immigrants, at 39% or 276,000 in the year ending June 2022. These included 89,000 Ukrainians, 76,000 from Hong Kong and 21,000 Afghans or UK returnees from Afghanistan.

The ONS said the UK was living through a unique period when travel was recovering after Covid 19. The statistics also show that the number of people applying for asylum was the highest for nearly 20 years, at 72,027.

The backlog on asylum decisions is now 143,377, with nearly 98,000 people waiting for more than six months, according to Home Office data. Forty-one per cent of applications for asylum come from people who have travelled to the UK in small boats, the statistics show.

Enver Solomon, the head of the Refugee Council, said: “The number of men, women and children now living in limbo has risen by 20,000 in just three months, meaning 143,000 are now waiting for an initial decision on their case, with just under 98,000 waiting more than six months..”

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said the figures showed serious problems and Conservative mismanagement of the immigration and asylum systems.

“Despite their promises to stop dangerous Channel crossings, they have failed to tackle the criminal gangs, and asylum decision-making has collapsed – with only 2% of people who arrived in small boats over the last year having had their cases decided,” she said.