Net migration to the UK, the difference between the number of people entering the European country and leaving it, rose to 333,000 in 2015, the Office for National Statistics says.
According to quarterly figures from the Office for National Statistics, published Thursday, some 630,000 people came to Britain in 2015 while only 297,000 left the country.
While the total migrants entering the UK showed a slight drop of 2,000, the number of those who left the country was 22,000 less than last year.
Net migration from the European Union (EU) reached 184,000 – 10,000 more than the previous year.
The new statistics are set to further fuel the Brexit debate over the country’s future in the EU, giving a boost to the “Leave” campaigners who accuse Prime Minister David Cameron’s government of not controlling the borders.
Immigration is a defining factor in the run up to the EU referendum vote on June 23.
Anti-EU backers argue that Britain can only cut…