Displaying items by tag: net migration

The UK experienced a record net migration increase in 2022, with figures revised to 745,000 for the year ending in December, up from a previous estimate of 606,000. This surge is partly attributed to an influx of overseas professionals in sectors like the NHS and care homes. Labour criticised the government's handling of immigration, pointing to the high number of asylum seekers in hotels and a significant increase in visas issued to skilled workers. Asylum seeker figures remained stable, with 76,000 applications and 56,042 people in hotel accommodations. There was a notable decrease in small boat arrivals, especially among Albanians, though the reasons for these fluctuations remain unclear. Enver Solomon from the Refugee Council emphasised the genuine need for protection among asylum seekers and urged against the Rwanda deportation plan, advocating instead for community integration and support for refugees. In a new development, immigration minister Robert Jenrick has put forward to No 10 proposals aimed at reducing the level of immigration: see