Net migration — which takes into account the number of people who emigrate from Britain — is at its second highest figure on record with 335,000 people coming to the UK between June 2015 and June 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Net migration 335k in year to June 2016, close to last year's high of 336k https://t.co/ctHj8W1Q3g pic.twitter.com/1zspsETyJc
— ONS (@ONS) December 1, 2016
This is more than three times the government's target to reduce annual net migration to below 100,000 a year. During the same period of time, a record number of EU citizens, 284,000 people, migrated to Britain.
Immigration of non-EU citizens 289k, EU citizens 284k, and British citizens 77k (year to June 2016) https://t.co/ctHj8W1Q3g pic.twitter.com/OrkWNb4CQz
— ONS (@ONS) December 1, 2016
Romania tops the table with 54,000 people moving to the UK, followed by 44,000 Chinese and 38,000 Poles and India with 36,000.
India, China & Romania were the 3 countries with the most immigrants coming to the UK https://t.co/eyRTfL1a1Y
— ONS (@ONS) November 26, 2015
These latest figures from the ONS have been much anticipated as the UK government struggles to determine its Brexit strategy while appeasing the 'Leavers' but without alienating 'Remainers.'
See the recent history of international migration to and from the UK in our interactive timeline https://t.co/Vzw2xZdiGD pic.twitter.com/9tbdIdXg7W
— ONS (@ONS) December 1, 2016
And with headlines that immigration to Britain now stands at 'record levels,' little will be done to quell the growing anti-immigrant rhetoric from many politicians and xenophobic sentiment felt among many Britons — but not all.
No one should live in fear because of who they are. Let's unite Britain against #hatecrime — we are #BetterThanThat. pic.twitter.com/qtQxVbAhtN
— #BetterThanThat (@britainisbetter) December 1, 2016
