Migration Statistics Briefing: November 2010

Article

Net migration is continuing to rise, but this is largely explained by decreased net emigration by British citizens, rather than increased net immigration by non-British citizens.

Estimated net long-term immigration to the UK (the surplus of people immigrating over people emigrating) in the year to March 2010 was 215,000. This compares with 147,000 in the year to March 2009, an increase of around 45 per cent (but is still lower than the peaks of around 220,000 seen in 2005 and 2007). The increase in net immigration is due to a decrease in emigration (down 14 per cent) rather than any significant increase in immigration (up 2 per cent).

All this demonstrates the difficult task that the government has set itself in seeking to significantly reduce total net immigration, a statistical measure over which it has only limited control. The impact of changes in British migration (over which the government has no control at all) on total net migration demonstrates this very clearly.

Related items

  1. The Home Office building in London

    A ‘paradigm shift’ in asylum and immigration policy?

    In 2019, a package of asylum reforms known as the ‘paradigm shift’ was passed by a broad party consensus in the Danish parliament.
  2. A wide shot of the debating chamber at the Scottish parliament

    A return north: reflections on IPPR Scotland’s tenth anniversary conference

    There’s nothing like moving away from Scotland to remind you just how Scottish you are. 
  3. Newcastle street view of famous bridge and buildings

    The evolution of devolution: How the English devolution and community empowerment bill can go further

    The government’s early commitment to broadening and deepening devolution in England is very welcome, but the bill must be bold enough to make change that people can see and feel.