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Big net migration fall since Brexit vote, latest estimates show | Big net migration fall since Brexit vote, latest estimates show |
(35 minutes later) | |
Net migration has fallen to the lowest level for three years after a surge in the number of EU nationals leaving the UK since last June's Brexit vote. | Net migration has fallen to the lowest level for three years after a surge in the number of EU nationals leaving the UK since last June's Brexit vote. |
Net migration - the difference between those entering and leaving the UK - fell 81,000 to 246,000 in the year to March 2017. | Net migration - the difference between those entering and leaving the UK - fell 81,000 to 246,000 in the year to March 2017. |
More than half that change is due to a decrease in net migration of EU citizens, which is down 51,000. | More than half that change is due to a decrease in net migration of EU citizens, which is down 51,000. |
The government is committed to reducing net migration to below 100,000. | The government is committed to reducing net migration to below 100,000. |
Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis welcomed the new figures, saying: "It was good to see a third quarter running of net migration figures coming down". | Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis welcomed the new figures, saying: "It was good to see a third quarter running of net migration figures coming down". |
But business groups raised concerns about the fall, with the CBI saying: "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all." | But business groups raised concerns about the fall, with the CBI saying: "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all." |
The ONS figures show a particularly sharp rise, of 17,000, in departures of citizens from the so-called EU8 countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. | The ONS figures show a particularly sharp rise, of 17,000, in departures of citizens from the so-called EU8 countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. |
An ONS spokesman said: "These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people's decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. | An ONS spokesman said: "These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people's decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. |
"It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-term trend." | "It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-term trend." |
The ONS figures show that immigration from all countries has fallen - and emigration has also risen. | The ONS figures show that immigration from all countries has fallen - and emigration has also risen. |
Exit checks | Exit checks |
International migration for work remains the most likely reason to move, said the ONS, but it added that people are now more likely to move if they have a definite job, rather than to just look for work. | International migration for work remains the most likely reason to move, said the ONS, but it added that people are now more likely to move if they have a definite job, rather than to just look for work. |
A spokesman for the Institute of Directors said "no one should celebrate these numbers". | A spokesman for the Institute of Directors said "no one should celebrate these numbers". |
"Given unemployment is currently at its lowest level ever (4.5%), without the three million EU citizens living here the UK would have an acute labour shortage. | "Given unemployment is currently at its lowest level ever (4.5%), without the three million EU citizens living here the UK would have an acute labour shortage. |
"Signs that it is becoming a less attractive place to live and work are a concern," he added. | "Signs that it is becoming a less attractive place to live and work are a concern," he added. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By BBC Home Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani | By BBC Home Affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani |
Are there other factors beyond a suspected Brexit effect? | Are there other factors beyond a suspected Brexit effect? |
Since the Brexit referendum, the falls in the pound on currency markets mean that money made in the UK buys less back home. | Since the Brexit referendum, the falls in the pound on currency markets mean that money made in the UK buys less back home. |
This is really important for workers who are sending cash back to their families - and a decisive factor in decisions to move all around the world. | This is really important for workers who are sending cash back to their families - and a decisive factor in decisions to move all around the world. |
Last June, the pound bought almost 6 Polish zlotys. Today, it buys only 4.6 zlotys. | Last June, the pound bought almost 6 Polish zlotys. Today, it buys only 4.6 zlotys. |
What's more, when people choose to move to another country, they're not just looking at the circumstances there, but, fairly obviously, at the conditions at home. | What's more, when people choose to move to another country, they're not just looking at the circumstances there, but, fairly obviously, at the conditions at home. |
And there is no doubt that for some EU workers, coming to the UK isn't the slam-dunk deal it once was. | And there is no doubt that for some EU workers, coming to the UK isn't the slam-dunk deal it once was. |
Read Dominic's full analysis | Read Dominic's full analysis |
Matthew Percival, head of employment at the CBI, said EU nationals made a "crucial contribution" to the economy. | Matthew Percival, head of employment at the CBI, said EU nationals made a "crucial contribution" to the economy. |
"This latest data reflects a trend many businesses have seen - an increase in the number of EU citizens leaving the country," he said. | "This latest data reflects a trend many businesses have seen - an increase in the number of EU citizens leaving the country," he said. |
"The loss of these vital skills should concern us all, underlining the importance of urgently providing certainty for millions of workers and their families." | "The loss of these vital skills should concern us all, underlining the importance of urgently providing certainty for millions of workers and their families." |
The government has also published the first ever "exit checks" data - a proper count of all people who are actually known to have left the UK. | The government has also published the first ever "exit checks" data - a proper count of all people who are actually known to have left the UK. |
For the year to March 2017, the data shows that 97% of students from outside the EU with a visa to enter the UK are known to have complied with the terms of their visa by either departing the UK or remaining in the country by extending their visas. | For the year to March 2017, the data shows that 97% of students from outside the EU with a visa to enter the UK are known to have complied with the terms of their visa by either departing the UK or remaining in the country by extending their visas. |
It is not clear what had happened to the remaining 3% whose visas had expired. | It is not clear what had happened to the remaining 3% whose visas had expired. |
This previously unknown figure runs contrary to repeated claims that international students are abusing the immigration system to stay illegally in the UK. | This previously unknown figure runs contrary to repeated claims that international students are abusing the immigration system to stay illegally in the UK. |
Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said it showed Theresa May's "long-running campaign to malign international students" was "based on fantasy". | Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said it showed Theresa May's "long-running campaign to malign international students" was "based on fantasy". |
And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the NHS was facing recruitment problems due to the lack of EU workers - and the UK needed a migration policy based on the "economic needs" of the country. | And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the NHS was facing recruitment problems due to the lack of EU workers - and the UK needed a migration policy based on the "economic needs" of the country. |
The Lib Dems called the overall drop in net migration a "deeply worrying Brexodus of EU citizens", blaming the government's failure to guarantee their rights to stay in the UK after Brexit. | The Lib Dems called the overall drop in net migration a "deeply worrying Brexodus of EU citizens", blaming the government's failure to guarantee their rights to stay in the UK after Brexit. |
Are you an EU national living in the UK? Are you considering leaving the UK? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you an EU national living in the UK? Are you considering leaving the UK? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |