Strong economy responsible for rise in net migration

Home Secretary, Theresa May, says the rise in net migration in the year preceding June 2013 was the result of the strength of the UK economy.

Although immigration to the UK fell, fewer people left, resulting in an unexpected increase in net migration despite government pledges to reduce it to below 100,000 by the next election.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal net migration rose to 182,000 in the year to June 2013, an increase of 15,000 from the previous year.

Although immigration to the UK fell by 14,000 compared with the previous year, 29,000 fewer people left the UK than in the previous year, bringing emigration levels to their lowest since 2001.

Theresa May attributed the reduction in emigration to Britain’s economic growth, which surpassed that of southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. Migrants from these nations made up the biggest rise in immigration.

In contrast, migrants from outside the EU made up the most significant drop in immigration, by around 40,000 from the previous year.

The rise in net migration follows the government’s promise to reduce it to the “tens of thousands” by the end of this parliament.

Following the release of the figures, the home secretary put forward tactics to “regain control” of immigration in an exclusive piece for Politics Home.

In outlining government strategy to achieve this, Theresa May revealed plans to address the pull factors for immigration and to renegotiate the terms of free movement, while she suggested new member states reach a certain level of economic output per head or income before full free movement is permitted.

However, she remarked that an “overwhelming incentive” for migrants to move from poorer to richer countries would remain as long as there is disparity between the earnings of EU states. 

Furthermore, David Cameron announced measures to limit EU migrants’ access to benefits. The welfare restrictions will prevent new migrants from getting job-seekers’ benefits for their first three months in the UK and see benefits terminated after a period of six months unless the migrant has a genuine chance of getting a job. 

“Theresa May has boasted repeatedly that net migration was falling and her target would be met. Now those hollow claims have been completely exposed," said Labour MP David Hanson, shadow immigration minister in speaking of the rise.

Net migration is the difference between the number of people immigrating to the UK and those emigrating. The government has little control over EU migration and emigration from the UK.