Net Long-Term Migration Remains Close To Record Levels

Net long-term migration to the UK has fallen slightly, but remains close to record levels, official figures show.

The measure - which is the difference between the number of people arriving in the country and leaving - stood at an estimated 327,000 in the year ending in March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

This was a fall of 9,000 compared with the previous 12 months and is also 7,000 lower than the level recorded for the year to December.

Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said: "Net migration remains at record levels although the recent trend is broadly flat."

The latest figure is the third highest on record, and will once again shine a spotlight on the Conservatives' aim of reducing net migration to below 100,000.

Long-term international migrants are those who come to Britain for at least a year.

The latest figures, the first since June's EU referendum, showed that in the year ending in March, net migration for EU citizens was estimated at 180,000 - down from 184,000 in the previous year.

Statisticians said the change was because of a fall in net migration of citizens from eight central and east European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic.

This trend partially offset net migration of Romanians and Bulgarians, which is now estimated to be at the record level of 61,000.

Restrictions on people from those nations working in the UK were lifted in January 2014.

Net migration of citizens from other EU nations remained similar to the previous year - at 78,000.

Immigration - just those arriving - was estimated at 633,000, one of the highest recorded levels. The peak was 644,000.

Immigration of EU citizens remains lower than that of those from outside the bloc (282,000), although the gap has narrowed recently.

Non-EU net migration in the latest period was 190,000, compared with 200,000 in the previous year.

It was also revealed that long-term immigration of overseas students fell by 28,000 to 164,000, the lowest estimate for more than eight years.

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: "Reducing the number of migrants coming to the UK will be a priority for the negotiations to leave the EU.

"We are also committed to reducing non-EU migration across all visa routes in order to bring net migration down to sustainable levels as soon as possible."

He said Government reforms "are working", but added: "There is no doubt there is far more to do. We will build on this to deliver an immigration system which works in the best interests of the country."

Shadow Home Office minister Carolyn Harris said: "These figures are a reminder of Theresa May's failings as Home Secretary.

"Once again, the Tory promise on immigration lies in tatters and net migration remains more than three times their target.

"For all the rhetoric, it is clear the Government failed to devise either a fair or firm approach to immigration."