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| UK net migration hits record high | UK net migration hits record high |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Net migration to the UK is at an all-time high, reaching 330,000 in the year to March, the Office for National Statistics has said. | Net migration to the UK is at an all-time high, reaching 330,000 in the year to March, the Office for National Statistics has said. |
| The figure - the difference between the number entering the country and those leaving - is more than three times higher than the government's target. | The figure - the difference between the number entering the country and those leaving - is more than three times higher than the government's target. |
| In 2014, 13% of people living in the UK had been born abroad, taking the foreign-born population to 8.3m. | |
| Immigration Minister James Brokenshire called the rise "deeply disappointing". | |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "These figures reflect 'Borderless Britain' and total impotence of the British government." | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "These figures reflect 'Borderless Britain' and total impotence of the British government." |
| It is the fifth consecutive quarterly rise in the net migration figure - with increases in arrivals from both inside and outside the EU. | It is the fifth consecutive quarterly rise in the net migration figure - with increases in arrivals from both inside and outside the EU. |
| Net migration of EU citizens was 183,000, up 53,000 from the year ending March 2014. | |
| The number of those arriving from countries outside the EU was still larger, with net migration measured at 196,000, up 39,000 on a year earlier. | The number of those arriving from countries outside the EU was still larger, with net migration measured at 196,000, up 39,000 on a year earlier. |
| Expansion of the EU and the relatively fast recovery of Britain's economy are seen as key factors in the trend. | |
| Among the other ONS findings based on the latest figures were: | Among the other ONS findings based on the latest figures were: |
| In 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron said in a speech that he was giving a "no ifs, no buts" promise that he would bring immigration numbers down to "levels our country can manage". | |
| After this latest set of figures, the government insisted it was acting to control immigration but said the EU needed to do more to help ease the current migrant crisis across Europe. | After this latest set of figures, the government insisted it was acting to control immigration but said the EU needed to do more to help ease the current migrant crisis across Europe. |
| Mr Brokenshire said: "These stark figures are deeply disappointing. | Mr Brokenshire said: "These stark figures are deeply disappointing. |
| "While these figures underline the challenges we need to meet to reduce net migration, they should also act as a further wake-up call for the EU. | "While these figures underline the challenges we need to meet to reduce net migration, they should also act as a further wake-up call for the EU. |
| "Current flows of people across Europe are on a scale we haven't seen since the end of World War Two. This is not sustainable and risks the future economic development of other EU member states." | "Current flows of people across Europe are on a scale we haven't seen since the end of World War Two. This is not sustainable and risks the future economic development of other EU member states." |
| Labour's immigration spokesman David Hanson said the prime minister should rethink his target, adding: "He made a pledge to the British people and he's self-evidently not met his own target. | |
| "In not meeting his target he has both not tackled the issues of serious exploitation nor has he dealt with the issue where we potentially have people who could come to the UK and help us grow our economy. I think he needs to revisit this target completely." | |
| Earlier this week the government announced more details of its new Immigration Bill, which is due to be introduced in the autumn. | |
| Under the legislation, illegal immigrants caught working in the UK could face up to six months in prison and late-night takeaways and off-licences will face closure if they are found employing foreigners who have no legal right to be in the country. |