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Net migration from Eastern Europe to Britain slows to a trickle after Brexit vote

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, wants to reduce net migration to less than 100,000 a year - AFP
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, wants to reduce net migration to less than 100,000 a year - AFP

Net migration from Eastern Europe has slowed to a trickle with as few as 5,000 people arriving in the UK from the countries last year.

Official figures show that net immigration from the eight eastern European countries that joined the European Union after 2004 was at a record low in 2016.

Overall net migration to the UK in 2016 was estimated to be 248,000, the lowest level for almost three years, and a drop of 25 per cent on 2015.

However the total is still far more than the target set by Theresa May’s government, to bring net migration down to below 100,000 a year.

Net migration dropped by 84,000 in 2016

Net migration to the UK is calculated by the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country.

This was a "statistically significant" fall of 84,000 compared to the figure recorded in 2015, the Office for National Statistics said.

The ONS said the change in long-term international net migration - covering people coming to and leaving the country for at least 12 months - was driven by a 40,000 rise in emigration.

This was made up mainly of EU citizens, with the number departing at an estimated 117,000 - a rise of 31,000 on the previous 12 months.

EU nationals are leaving the UK in much higher numbers

Immigration - just those arriving - was at 588,000 last year, a fall of 43,000 year-on-year although the ONS said this was not a statistically significant decrease.

Immigration from “EU8” states - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - was down by 25,000 to 48,000, while emigration increased by 16,000 to 43,000 last year.

In its election manifesto, Labour said it was offering "fair rules and reasonable management of migration" - but dismissed targets as "bogus".

The new figures give the fullest picture yet of immigration around the EU referendum vote last year.

Britain's settlement following departure from the bloc is expected to include restrictions on free movement rules, although the precise arrangements for post-Brexit immigration are yet to be thrashed out.

Countdown to the General Election

Alp Mehmet, Vice Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “This reduction in net migration is welcome but it is still running at a quarter of a million a year – a level that would have once have been dismissed as incredible.

"This means, broadly, a UK population increase of nearly half a million, every year. This is not a situation that can be allowed to slide. 

“A strong focus by the next government on reducing immigration will be essential if the growing strains on our public services and society are to be relieved.”