Britain sees sharp increase in net migration

212,000 people moved to Britain in 2013, a considerably higher figure compared to the Conservatives’ 100,000 target.

17:30 27 February 2014

Based on official estimates, net UK migration has increased by 212,000 in the year leading up to September 2013. This number is far higher than the government’s target of below 100,000. The growth is partly due to the increasing number of the European Union citizens who are coming to the country.

There was a rise in new arrivals from Poland, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. In addition, there were 24,000 people from Bulgaria and Romania who came to the country. The office for National Statistics said that 70% of the migrants were here to work while the remaining 30% came to study.

David Cameron’s official spokesman said that the government’s aim to reduce the number of migrants had not changed. Asked if the prime minister stood by his pledge, the spokesman said: “That is absolutely the objective and we are going to very much keep working towards that.

"We are putting in place what we believe are the right measures that go towards meeting that objective."

Immigration minister James Brokenshire insisted the government had not abandoned its target and its focus "absolutely remains on bringing net migration down to those sustainable levels".

"It is down to levels we have not seen, in terms of net migration from outside the EU, since 1998.

"But what it does show is a very significant increase in migration from the EU itself - doubling - and that's why we remain focused on dealing with the abuse of free movement and also addressing some of those benefit and welfare factors that may be a pull factor to attract people to come to the UK."