Latest migration flows reported earlier by the UK ONS 22 Feb
- estimates that 130,000 EU nationals emigrated in the year to September, the highest number since 2008.
- 220,000 EU nationals came to live in the UK - 47,000 fewer than the previous year.
- Net EU migration - the difference between arrivals and departures - was 90,000, the lowest for five years.
- The figures also show that more British people are emigrating than are returning to live in the UK.
Citizens rights uncertainty continues to be a real stumbling block in Brexit talks. Lower pound too makes the prospect of working in UK that much less attractive as much of it is sent home so EU countries favoured for migrant workers.
Says the ONS:
In the year ending September 2017 net migration was at a similar level to early 2014 with 244,000 more people coming to the UK than leaving, so still adding to the UK population. This follows record levels of net migration during 2015 and early 2016.
The latest headline estimates are similar to last quarter (published 30 November 2017).
EU net migration has fallen over the last year, as fewer EU citizens are coming to the UK and the number leaving the UK increased. However, there are still more EU citizens coming to the UK than leaving.
The number of EU citizens coming to the UK for work-related reasons has fallen over the last year, in particular, those coming to the UK "looking for work".
Non-EU net migration increased over the last year. This time last year we saw a decrease in the number of non-EU citizens arriving to study, which was not reflected in the most comparable Home Office's student visa data.
Full ONS report here
