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| Net migration to UK falls to 273,000 | Net migration to UK falls to 273,000 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Net migration to the UK has dropped to 273,000 in the year to September, down 49,000 from the previous year. | Net migration to the UK has dropped to 273,000 in the year to September, down 49,000 from the previous year. |
| The Office for National Statistics said it is the first time net migration has dipped below 300,000 in two years, but is not statistically significant. | The Office for National Statistics said it is the first time net migration has dipped below 300,000 in two years, but is not statistically significant. |
| But it is short of the government's target figure for net migration to be under 100,000. | But it is short of the government's target figure for net migration to be under 100,000. |
| The figures record the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving. | The figures record the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving. |
| Immigration was estimated to be 596,000 - comprising 268,000 EU citizens, 257,000 non-EU citizens and 71,000 British citizens. | Immigration was estimated to be 596,000 - comprising 268,000 EU citizens, 257,000 non-EU citizens and 71,000 British citizens. |
| This included the highest level ever recorded of Romanians and Bulgarians - 74,000. | This included the highest level ever recorded of Romanians and Bulgarians - 74,000. |
| Some 323,000 people are estimated to have left the UK in the year to September, up by 26,000 on the 12 months to September 2015. | Some 323,000 people are estimated to have left the UK in the year to September, up by 26,000 on the 12 months to September 2015. |
| Of these, 128,000 were British citizens, along with 103,000 EU citizens and 93,000 non-EU citizens. | Of these, 128,000 were British citizens, along with 103,000 EU citizens and 93,000 non-EU citizens. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Dominic Casciani, home affairs correspondent | By Dominic Casciani, home affairs correspondent |
| Net migration - the balance of people arriving and leaving the UK for at least a year - is down. But while the net decrease looks substantial, nobody can say for sure what's triggered the change because these quarterly figures could have been influenced by a string of short-term factors. | Net migration - the balance of people arriving and leaving the UK for at least a year - is down. But while the net decrease looks substantial, nobody can say for sure what's triggered the change because these quarterly figures could have been influenced by a string of short-term factors. |
| For a start, there appears to have been a rise in emigration - and when that goes up, net migration can come down. | For a start, there appears to have been a rise in emigration - and when that goes up, net migration can come down. |
| Secondly, some of the change could be down to seasonal fluctuations in student numbers. | Secondly, some of the change could be down to seasonal fluctuations in student numbers. |
| Thirdly, although there were significant departures by people from some parts of Eastern Europe, the number coming from poorer Romania and Bulgaria went up. | |
| The upshot is the overall number of people arriving for a job is broadly the same. What does it all amount to? Immigration statistics are an inexact science - and at the moment it's very difficult to know for sure what's going on. | The upshot is the overall number of people arriving for a job is broadly the same. What does it all amount to? Immigration statistics are an inexact science - and at the moment it's very difficult to know for sure what's going on. |
| The figures are the first to include migration estimates following the EU referendum in June. | The figures are the first to include migration estimates following the EU referendum in June. |
| Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said it was "too early" to say what effect the referendum has had on long-term migration. | Nicola White, head of international migration statistics at the ONS, said it was "too early" to say what effect the referendum has had on long-term migration. |
| Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said the fall in net migration was "encouraging" but was not a reason to "get carried away". | Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said the fall in net migration was "encouraging" but was not a reason to "get carried away". |
| He said the government would "use the opportunity to take control of immigration from within the EU as we begin Brexit negotiations in the coming weeks. | He said the government would "use the opportunity to take control of immigration from within the EU as we begin Brexit negotiations in the coming weeks. |
| "The UK will always welcome those who contribute and benefit our country, but there is no consent for uncontrolled immigration." | "The UK will always welcome those who contribute and benefit our country, but there is no consent for uncontrolled immigration." |
| Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said the figures showed the immigration debate will "have to move on" in the light of Brexit. | Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future, said the figures showed the immigration debate will "have to move on" in the light of Brexit. |
| He said: "A one-size-fits-all approach to immigration can't help us make the post-Brexit choices that the government and the public now face." | He said: "A one-size-fits-all approach to immigration can't help us make the post-Brexit choices that the government and the public now face." |
| Citizenship levels | Citizenship levels |
| Meanwhile, separate figures from the Home Office show that a near-record number of EU nationals were granted British citizenship last year. | Meanwhile, separate figures from the Home Office show that a near-record number of EU nationals were granted British citizenship last year. |
| Citizenship was given to 16,754 people from EU countries, the second highest since records were first compiled, behind the 17,645 in 2013. | Citizenship was given to 16,754 people from EU countries, the second highest since records were first compiled, behind the 17,645 in 2013. |
| Some 6,498 members of the EU 14 countries - older member states such as France, Spain and Germany - were granted UK citizenship in 2016, up 50% on the previous 12 months and the highest ever for a single year. | Some 6,498 members of the EU 14 countries - older member states such as France, Spain and Germany - were granted UK citizenship in 2016, up 50% on the previous 12 months and the highest ever for a single year. |
| A further 6,813 people from the EU 8 countries, which include Poland, gained British citizenship, a rise of 18%, surpassed only by figures for 2013. | A further 6,813 people from the EU 8 countries, which include Poland, gained British citizenship, a rise of 18%, surpassed only by figures for 2013. |
| Citizenship was given to 3,215 Romanians and Bulgarians, up 20% on 2015 and again only topped by 2013 figures. | Citizenship was given to 3,215 Romanians and Bulgarians, up 20% on 2015 and again only topped by 2013 figures. |
| Other points within the ONS statistics were: | Other points within the ONS statistics were: |