UK net migration has increased despite governmentâ„¢s pledge to reduce the number from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands by the time of 2015 general election.
New data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that net migration to the country rose to 176,000 – up from 153,000 people in the 12 months to the end of December.
The ONS figures revealed the increase is due to a drop in the number of migrants leaving the country, which fell from 351,000 to 321,000.
This comes as the number of immigrants arriving in Britain fell from 566,000 to 497,000 since the previous year, the ONS found.
The new figures are a blow to Conservatives, and particularly to Home Secretary Theresa May, who have pledged to limit immigrantsâ„¢ numbers below 100,000 before the next general election in 2015.
“Theresa May’s focus on net migration, which has gone wrong in these figures, has also meant the government is failing badly on illegal immigration,” said Shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant.
MOS/HE
Republished from: Press TV