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Net migration to the UK has risen to
the highest level since the EU
referendum in June 2016. The total
number of people coming to the coun-
try is also at a record high.
The increase, to about 313,000, was
driven largely by students from outside
the EU coming to universities and col-
leges, plus others arriving to work.
The enforced removals of failed
asylum seekers and illegal immigrants
were at their lowest on record.
A record 715,000 people who said
they planned to stay in the UK for more
than a year arrived in the year to March
and about 405,000 left, according to
the Office for National Statistics.
Net migration — the difference
between those arriving and those
leaving for more than a year — rose by
92,000 to an estimated 313,000 in the
year to March, to reach the highest level
since 2016, when it stood at 326,000.
Jay Lindop, director of the centre for
international migration at the Office
foundation for a high-wage, high-skill,
high-productivity economy.”
The latest net migration figure is
three times higher than the 100,
target set by David Cameron before the
Conservatives abandoned it in 2018.
Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migra-
tion Watch UK, said: “The figures are
shocking. The record level of net non-
EU migration is an indication of the
scale of the problem and what theMonarchs of the glen Three stags are reflected in the calm waters of Loch Leven, a sea loch at Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, as a summer evening descends
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coalition but the Tories, the
largest party, said it would help
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a hospital in 1931 suggests that
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said. “The Post Office must have
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ITV launched its revival of
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TV Festival: “The glory for us who
have been in broadcasting for ever
is that [with streaming] you get an
instant undeniable feedback.”Crash cottage despair
The owner of a 16th-century
cottage that has been hit by
vehicles about 20 times since
2015 wants heavy lorries to be
banned from his village. Mark
Kilbey, 57, lives on a sharp turn in
Wingham, Kent. The latest crash
happened less than four hours
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Michel, named after a French
feminist anarchist, is painted
bright pink and features a work
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in a life vest holding a heart-
shaped safety buoy. Yesterday it
rescued 89 people trying to reach
Europe from north Africa and
was looking for a safe sea port for
the migrants to disembark or to
transfer them to a European
coastguard vessel.A D D D E E E E
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Cryptic clues every day onlineNet immigration numbers rise
to highest level in four years
for National Statistics, said: “We are
seeing migration levels begin to rise
driven by increases in non-EU student
arrivals, mainly from China and India.”
Net migration from the EU fell from
62,000 to 58,000, whereas from outside
the EU it jumped from 213,000 to
316,000, the highest level since records
began 45 years ago.
Of those coming to the UK, 257,
came to study and about 460,000 to
work, to accompany or join their family
or for other reasons. About 75,
arrived from the EU to work plus a fur-
ther 101,000 from the rest of the world
either seeking work or with a job offer.
Kevin Foster, the immigration minis-
ter, said: “These figures demonstrate we
attract the brightest and best from
across the globe, who come to the UK to
work and study. There are more inter-
national students at our universities,
alongside overseas doctors and nurses
playing a key role [in] our NHS. We are
introducing our new points-based
system, which will attract the people we
need to drive our economy and lay thegovernment needs to control and
reduce. The points-based immigration
system will do nothing of the sort; if
anything, the inflow of migrants will
increase.”
The set of figures is likely to be the
last showing a big number arriving and
leaving, because the Covid-19 pan-
demic has caused visa applications to
fall. Between April and last month
there was a 99 per cent fall in study visas
issued, a 96 per cent drop in Tier 2
skilled work visas and 90 per cent fall in
family visas compared with the same
period last year.
Separate Home Office figures
showed a big jump in visas issued to
people coming to study in the UK, with
the number rising by 23 per cent to
299,000 in the year to March — the
highest in nine years. About 40 per cent
were granted to Chinese people, with
Indian citizens accounting for 49,000,
or 17 per cent. Later figures taking in the
three months from March to June show
a substantial drop in visas issued to the
same groups.Richard Ford Home Correspondent In and out
8006004002000000s*YE Mar 2020 figures are provisional Source: ONS2010 12 14 16 18 2020EU
referendumImmigration EmigrationNet migrationInternational migration*
UK, year endingPAUL YOUNG/SWNSHome Office criticised for Dad’s Army video
Continued from page 1
do expect it but it will not deter us from
trying to remove people,” one source
said.
A government source said: “There’s a
bunch of particularly loudmouthed
lawyers and barristers who seem to
spend more time on social media than
representing their clients, who think
even the mildest criticism of their pro-
fession will bring about the destruction
of democracy. It’s patently absurd
and they’d be better off leaving this
kind of hysterical ranting to Her
Majesty’s Opposition”.
The Home Office’s frustration over
removals was clear in the video, which
has been viewed more than a million
times since it was posted on Wednesday.
It states: “We are working to remove
migrants with no right to remain in the
UK. But return regulations are rigid
and open to abuse... allowing activist
lawyers to delay and disrupt returns.”
Simon Davis, president of the Law
Society, said: “Attacks on the integrity
of the legal profession undermine the
rule of law. To describe lawyers who are
upholding the law as ‘activist lawyers’ is
misleading and dangerous.”
Mr Ryecroft said in response to a
complaint that he had told his officials
that the term “activist lawyers” should
not be used again. Writing to JonathanPortes, a professor of economics at
King’s College London, he said: “The
general point the video is making is that
our efforts to facilitate legitimate and
legal returns are often frustrated by
individuals and lawyers putting in last-
minute claims... However, I agree that
the phrase should not have been used
on an official government channel.”
A Whitehall source said Ms Patel had
not seen the video but that she was
familiar with the language used and did
not think that it was wrong.
On Wednesday the Home Office
removed 12 migrants to France and
Germany and earlier in the month 14
others were sent back to EU states.The Home Office video recalled the
opening credits of the war comedy