UK net migration hits record high despite Tory promises to cut arrivals
The Guardian says Net migration has increased to a record level of more than 600,000 despite promises from ministers over four years to bring the total below 245,000.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show overall migration for 2022 was 606,000, which represents a 20% increase on the previous high of 504,000 last year.
Total long-term immigration was estimated at around 1.2 million in 2022, and emigration was 557,000, the statistical body said.
The rise had been largely fuelled by people from outside the European Union entering the UK to study, work or escape conflict or oppression.
According to the ONS data, the non-EU arrivals included 361,000 students and their families, 235,000 people coming for work-related reasons, 172,000 coming on humanitarian schemes from countries including Ukraine, Hong Kong and Afghanistan, and 76,000 people claiming asylum.
