Net migration to the United Kingdom dropped to an estimated 728,000 in the year ending June 2024, marking a 20% decrease from the record high of 906,000 recorded the previous year, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
This decline follows rule changes implemented by the Conservative government in January, restricting most international students from bringing family members to the UK. Additionally, many students who arrived post-pandemic have now completed their courses, contributing to the reduction in arrivals.
Revised Figures for 2023
The ONS also revised its earlier estimate for net migration in the year ending June 2023, increasing it by 166,000 to 906,000. For the most recent period, approximately 1.2 million people arrived in the UK, while 479,000 departed.
Migration has been a contentious political issue, especially during the July 2024 general election, where Keir Starmer’s Labour Party unseated the Conservative Party. Labour’s success was partly attributed to public discontent with the Conservatives’ failure to reduce migration, a key pledge since Brexit.
Labour Criticizes Visa Rule Violators
Migration Minister Seema Malhotra reiterated Labour’s commitment to strict immigration enforcement. “Those who abuse our immigration system will face the strongest possible consequences,” she stated. Employers flouting visa rules or failing to pay the minimum wage could face a ban on hiring foreign workers for up to two years under Labour’s proposed Employment Rights Bill.
Malhotra added, “No longer will employers exploit international workers for costs they should have borne themselves if they had chosen to recruit domestically.”
Channel Crossings Increase
Despite the overall drop in net migration, undocumented migrant arrivals via the English Channel continue to rise. Over 33,500 individuals have crossed the Channel in small, dangerous boats so far in 2024, an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2023, though numbers remain below 2022 levels.
Political Fallout
The Conservative Party, which won a landslide victory in 2019 under Boris Johnson on promises to control migration, faced significant backlash over rising numbers. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration saw voter defections to Reform UK, an anti-immigration party, further eroding Conservative support.
Labour has pledged to tackle migration issues while maintaining fairness. However, critics argue that stricter policies may exacerbate existing labor shortages in key industries.
This issue is set to remain a major challenge as the Labour government works to balance public sentiment with the economic realities of migration.
