Brain drain: Net migration plummets to pre-pandemic low as more Brits flee Economics Net migration has fallen to a pre-pandemic low, official statistics have shown, as successive Tory and Labour governments have looked to tighten controls on visas. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said net migration dropped to 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, around two-thirds lower than levels a year earlier. The large fall [...]
UK population: High migration drives near record growth Economics The UK population increased by 755,300 in the year to mid-2024, marking the second-largest annual rise in over 75 years, mainly due to high net migration. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated that the UK population had reached 69,281,400, with England experiencing a larger increase than other nations. Net migration reached 738,700 over the 12 months [...]
Nigel Farage rows back on key migration pledges Politics Nigel Farage has appeared to row back on key aspects of his legal migration pledges amid mounting questions over whether his figures stand up as well as fierce criticism from top lawyers and researchers on the viability of his plan to end Indefinite Leave to Remain. The Reform UK leader told LBC on Wednesday morning [...]
Rents rise at slowest rate for four years, Zoopla warns September 12, 2025 Skyrocketing rents in the UK have given way to a steadier increase as the supply of homes rises and tenant demand falls, according to new figures. Average rents are 2.4 per cent higher than a year ago, the lowest annual rate in four years and less than half of that recorded 12 months ago, Zoopla [...]
Immigration is top voter concern, exclusive poll says August 5, 2025 Reducing immigration became more important to voters in July, polling has shown, amid social instability over anti-migrant protests and more calls from top UK economists for a greater focus on getting Brits into the labour market before hiring overseas workers. Research by City AM/Freshwater Strategy has shown reducing immigration is the single most important issue [...]
Migrant returns deal to begin ‘within days’ August 5, 2025 The UK’s migrant returns deal with France is set to begin “within days”, the government has said, as Home Office officials brace to defend the pact against any legal challenges after “learning from the errors” of the previous government’s Rwanda deal. In the first agreement of its kind, the UK will return dozens of illegal [...]
Brits pour scorn on Labour after week from hell July 7, 2025 Brits have delivered a withering verdict on Labour after a week in which the anniversary of their election victory was marred by shambolic u-turns and infighting. Following the dramatic events of last week, voters’ disapproval of the government appears to have intensified with a growing number of Brits opposing the government’s high-tax-high-spending policies, according to [...]
Starmer and Macron hope for ‘progress’ on defence and migration at summit July 5, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have said they hope to make “good progress” on issues including migration and defence when they meet next week, Number 10 has said. The two leaders will hold a summit when the French President travels to the UK for a state visit next week, with the two leaders speaking [...]
Government told migrant partners are a drag on UK finances June 10, 2025 UK government ministers have been warned that migrants who arrive on partner and family visas are likelier to have a negative impact on public finances and essential services, including the NHS. The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has told the government that the vast majority of people on partner visas will be “fiscally negative” over [...]
Migrant daily arrivals top 1,000 for first time this year June 1, 2025 More than 1,100 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel on Saturday, the highest number recorded on a single day so far this year. The latest Home Office figures show that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats, bringing the provisional annual total so far to 14,811. This is 42 per cent higher [...]