Interested in comments on the following immigrations stats pasted below (especially from @Nestingbirds whom I have asked on previous threads for her definitions of illegal economic immigrants). I am assuming you mean asylum seekers?
And from this note, it appears immigration is declining from 2022 peak? It would suggest that Labour have continued to find ways to reduce it following on from Sunak - inspite of comments that they’re useless?
Yes there are problems in this country.
Is Farage blaming people arriving on boats? Or is he saying it’s a wider group of people than those arriving on boats? If so WHO exactly are the immigrants he feels are responsible for our woes?
Before Brexit, he was blaming Europe for our problems. Now it’s people on boats. It’s a shame we are no longer part of the Dublin Protocol then we could return those claiming asylum to the first country they landed in within the EU. Apparently now we aren’t in the EU, those refused asylum in the EU have a second chance to claim asylum in Britain.
This is a downside of Brexit that Farage, campaigned for!!!!
Immigration is complex, varied and both beneficial and problematic.
Are there benefits to Immigration? What value to immigrants bring? Or is the general anger directed simply to those seeing asylum and in hotels/ getting taxis etc?
IMMIGRTION SUMMARY
Yes, the UK has experienced a sharp increase in net immigration since Brexit, though net migration levels have fallen significantly in 2024 from their peak in 2023. This rise was driven by a large increase in non-EU immigration, which more than offset a decrease in EU migration. Factors contributing to this included liberalised work and study visa rules, new humanitarian routes, and active recruitment by universities.
Key Points
Overall Trend:
While net migration has recently declined from record highs in 2023, it remained higher in 2024 than during the 2010s.
Non-EU Immigration:
The post-Brexit rise was almost entirely due to a significant increase in non-EU immigration.
Factors driving non-EU immigration:
Work and Study: Increased numbers of people came to the UK for work, particularly in health and care, and for study.
Humanitarian Routes: New visa routes were opened for Ukrainians and people from Hong Kong.
University Recruitment: Universities increased their overseas student recruitment as their financial situations worsened.
Impact of Brexit:
The shift from free movement for EU citizens to a points-based system for non-EU citizens unexpectedly led to higher overall net migration.
Recent Trends:
Figures showed a sharp decline in net migration in 2024, with net migration halving from the previous year. This was largely due to decreases in health and care visas and fewer Ukrainian and Afghan arrivals.