Net migration halves in a year in huge boost to Keir Starmer

Net migration has halved in a year in a huge boost to .

Data released this morning revealed the figure was 431,000 in the year to December 2024 - down from 860,000 12 months earlier. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 948,000 people came to live in the UK last year, while 517,000 went to live overseas - an 11% rise.

Mr Starmer has vowed to drive down net migration, which peaked at over 900,000 under the Tories.

Last week a long-awaited white paper revealed a string of measures aimed at achieving this, including scrapping social care visas. There are also new English language and qualification requirments in order to qualify for a skilled worker visa.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

It is estimated the Government's policies will cut a further 100,000 from long-term arrivals in the UK. The ONS data shows a rise in the number of people claiming asylum - rising from 80,000 to 95,000.

Separate data released by the Home Office shows there were 44,000 irregular arrivals in the year to March this year, with 86% arriving by small boat.

Afghans were the most common nationality among small boat arrivals - accounting for 16%. Last night the Home Office said it was ramping up removals, with nearly 30,000 people kicked out of the country since the .

Before the Tories came into government in 2010, then-leader vowed to ensure net migration was in the "tens of thousands". But it soared in the following years, with Mr Starmer claiming a surge in work visas was driven by a reliance on cheap overseas labour.

The latest drop was driven by a fall in the number of people coming to work and study in the UK. There was a 49% decrease in the number of non-EU+ nationals arriving as the main applicant on a work visa.

And there was a 35% fall in those coming as work dependants. The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving as main applicants on a study visa dropped by 17%. And there a massive 86% drop in study dependants as after a crackdown by the previous government.