The 82,000 rise in overall net migration was fuelled by increase of 62,000 in immigration to 636,000 and a fall of 30,000 in emigration

Annual net migration to Britain in June hit a new record level of 336,000, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).



The 82,000 rise in overall net migration in the 12 months to June was fuelled by a rise of 62,000 in immigration to 636,000 and a fall of 30,000 in emigration compared with the previous year.

The net migration figure is the highest on record for the second quarter running, and is 10,000 higher than the previous recorded peak in 2005 shortly after the former communist states of Poland, Czech Republic and others joined the EU.

The latest figures confirm that Britain is firmly in an era of mass migration and the government’s hopes of reducing net migration to the “tens of thousands” is as far away as ever. The pledge to reduce net migration below 100,000 was renewed by David Cameron shortly after the election in May. Net migration last dipped below the 100,000 mark in 1997 – 18 years ago.

Home Office ministers blamed “too many British employers still overly reliant on foreign workers”, but British business leaders rejected the charge and highlighted their commitment to training British workers as well.

Meanwhile, Home Office figures show that 162 Syrian refugees have arrived under the government’s vulnerable persons relocation scheme in the 12 months to September, bringing the total under the scheme to 252.

Only 36 Syrian refugees arrived under the scheme between July and September during the height of the Mediterranean refugee crisis. On 7 September Cameron announced the intention to bring 20,000 Syrians to Britain under the scheme in the next four years.



There were 29,024 asylum applications in the 12 months to September, a rise of 18%. The largest numbers applying were from Eritrea, Sudan and Iran, and 2,402 were from Syria.

David Cameron reiterates commitment to cutting net migration Read more

The rise in net migration was split between an increase of 42,000 from within the EU and a rise of 36,000 in non-EU net migration.

There was a 53,000 rise in the number of people coming to work in Britain, with two-thirds having a definite job to go to. The latest employment figures show that in September there were two million EU nationals (excluding UK citizens) living in Britain, 324,000 more than the previous year.

The numbers coming to study have remained relatively stable at 192,000.

The net migration figure of 336,000 for the 12 months to June 2015 is 3,000 higher than the 330,000 estimate for the 12 months to March 2015. The ONS said the figure for the quarter to March has been revised upwards to 336,000, giving a record level of net migration for the past two quarters.

The chancellor’s autumn statement on Britain’s finances was based on an annual net migration figure of 183,000 a year. The latest figures suggest this may be a significant underestimate, as will be the contribution of migration to economic growth.

Chai Patel, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: “Yet again David Cameron has failed to deliver on his ‘no ifs, no buts’ pledge to drive net migration down to the tens of thousands. One can’t help but think that some in his government are quietly cheering this failure as there can be no doubt that success in driving down migration would shatter George Osborne’s fragile economic recovery. The vast majority of people who are coming to the UK are here to work and are vital to our economic growth, and make a net contribution to our public services.”

The immigration minister, James Brokenshire, blamed the record figures on too few overseas students leaving at the end of their courses and “too many British employers still overly reliant on foreign workers”.

Brokenshire said in the past it had been too easy for British companies to bring in overseas workers. The government was now determined to invest in training many more young Britons and had commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to advise on making significant cuts in economic migration from outside the EU.

Simon Walker, the director general of the Institute of Directors, said companies hired staff from overseas “because they are the right people for the job, because they fill gaping skills shortages, and because they build international links. Yet firms that hire from abroad are accused of undercutting wages and not doing enough to train young Britons. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.”